Salceda calls for week-long shutdown of Metro Manila to check COVID-19

March 9, 2020

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Monday called for a week-long shutdown of Metro Manila as a measure to contain COVID-19 as the number of confirmed cases rose sharply to 20.  

“During epidemics, everyone is a suspect, thus the need for isolation shock,” said Salceda, chair of the House committee on ways and means.

Salceda said classes should be suspended  “to slow down the virus and mitigate any potential for mass transmission.”

He said there should a work stoppage for one week in Metro Manila, no bus trips, no domestic flights and no expressway trips by closing the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), including all railways.

Salceda said citizens will have to stay at home and the exceptions to temporary entry ban to NCR would be food, medicines and health professions.

“A lockdown of NCR should be not be off the table if needed to slow down transmission of COVID-19.  The costs of mass community transmission far outweigh the economic losses arising from preemptive actions. Zero casualty doctrine should extend to all emergencies, especially health emergencies,” he said. DMS