Experts: Preserve gains, ease quarantine slowly. Inquirer Newsletter May 11, 2021

No images? Click here       Regions 8 Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Sabah ZAMBOANGA CITY—Eight members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, including two of its subleaders, were arrested in Sabah, Malaysia, on Saturday through the collaboration between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), military officials said on Monday. —Story by Julie S. Alipala Read more: newsinfo.inquirer.net   Entertainment ‘Heartful Cafe’ reveals a different side of Julie Anne San Jose I have always been [ready]. I’m not closing my doors on the possibility,” said Julie Anne San Jose, when asked if she’s ready to enter a new romantic relationship. —Story by Allan Policarpio Read more: entertainment.inquirer.net   Newsletter / Join us Has this been forwarded by a friend? Subscribe now to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Newsletter and get your latest news and important updates on COVID-19. Subscribe   Learn more     Banner Story Experts: Preserve gains, ease quarantine slowly By Leila B. Salaverria Experts from the OCTA Research group have recommended the slow and calibrated easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and four adjacent provinces to sustain the downward trend in COVID-19 numbers. They have also proposed the strategic reallocation of vaccines to focus on Metro Manila and other highly infected areas. (See related story on Page A4.) OCTA’s Ranjit Rye and Butch Ong noted a generally declining trend in pandemic figures in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble—consisting of Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal—which is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 14. “Right now, the trends are good, but we’re not yet where we’re supposed to be as far as managing the crisis in our region is concerned,” Rye said at the Laging Handa public briefing over state-run PTV 4. “Yes, we are healing, yes, we’re trending in the right direction, but we’re still not yet there,” he said. Above presurge levels Ong said the daily new count of cases in the areas was still “way above our presurge levels.” On Monday, the country registered 6,846 new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, pushing the total to 1,108,826. The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 90 more deaths, 40 of whom were previously tagged as recoveries, bringing the death toll to 18,562. Rye said the average daily attack rate, or the infections over the total population in a given area, remained high for many cities in Metro Manila, with only Navotas City below the critical level. --WITH A REPORT FROM DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN INQ Read more: newsinfo.inquirer.net   Editorial Lost chance for clarity What a golden opportunity it would have been to directly examine the President’s thinking when, last week, in a fit of anger, Mr. Duterte dared former Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio to a debate—and Carpio forthwith accepted the challenge. Alas, Mr. Duterte just as soon backed out from his own challenge, sending his mouthpiece Harry Roque to proxy for him instead.  Read full story: opinion.inquirer.net   Register         Share    Tweet    Share    Forward  Copyright © 2020 PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 2353, Makati Central Post Office, 1263 Makati City, Philippines. Preferences  |  Unsubscribe