- Celebrities showed support for lockdown extension.
Several celebrities have shown their approval of an extension of enhanced community quarantine.
Luzon has been put under lockdown as ordered by the Pres. Rodrigo Duterte from March 17 until April 12 (original community quarantine was set from March 15 to April 14) to stop the spread of COVID-19.
With the April 12 deadline nearing, several celebrities shared their sentiments in favor of extending the Luzon-wide quarantine period. Their statements were reported by Jojo Gabinete in his Pep.ph article.
Actress Lorna Tolentino says a lockdown extension will help lessen possible spread of infection. She suggested another two weeks of lockdown to help bring down the number of COVID-19 cases.
“April 14 ang tapos ng lockdown pero hindi pa rin nababawasan ang nagkakaroon ng COVID-19. 3,246 na ang COVID patients as of today, according sa Department of Health. Sa aking palagay ay mas makatutulong ang pagbaba ng bilang ng patients ng COVID-19 kung mananatili pa rin tayo sa bahay, kahit additional two weeks or more,” she said.
Beauty Queen MJ Lastimosa meanwhile tweeted a pleading face emoji.
Possible extension of ecq until April 30. 🥺
— MJ Lastimosa (@MJ_Lastimosa) April 6, 2020
Kapuso star Paolo Contis also shared the same sentiment saying extension of community quarantine is still needed.
“Feeling ko, mag-start pa lang to get better ang situation, e. Masasayang lang if tapusin ang quarantine. Ayoko sana, but I think it’s needed.”
James Blanco meanwhile felt for those most in need, He said with the limited help they’re getting from the government they are greatly affected by the lockdown. He added that if the government will be able to support them during the quarantine period, he knows it will be a problem if it is extended to another three months.
“Ang masakit, hindi kayang tustusan ng gobyerno ang mga pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino. Maraming magugutom, at isa pa, baka magkagulo ang mga tao dahil wala nang makain ang kanilang pamilya.
“Kung makakaya ng gobyerno natin na ibigay ang pang-araw-araw na pagkain ng bawat Pilipino, kahit tatlong buwan pa ang extension para wala nang mahawa sa COVID-19.”
KC Concepcion said that she’s “super game to keep staying at home.”
Super game to keep staying home. I am all for extending the community quarantine. Kahit abutin ng May ok lang, kung para naman sa ikabubuti nating lahat☺️ Kayo ba? Are you game to extend the ‘lockdown’?
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) April 5, 2020
Kapuso star and registered nurse Rocco Nacino is also in favor of extending the quarantine period to completely stop the spread of the virus.
“Ako, in favor ako. In my opinion, it’s like treating an infection. Let’s say, naka-antibiotic medicine kayo for seven days and on the second day, wala na yung sakit nyo, but it doesn’t necessarily mean na free from infection na kayo. Kaya seven days ang antibiotics, to completely remove any infection sa katawan mo, just to be sure. I think the same applies to our current situation.
“As much as I want to go back to my normal routine, mas kailangan na safe and virus-free muna ang bansa natin bago tayo mag-resume ng normal life natin. I think it will be a wise decision to do that para hindi na tayo bumalik sa sitwasyon na ito.”
Ervic Vijandre also echoed the same, saying we don’t know when the crisis will really end so extending the quarantine period will be beneficial in addressing the current situation.
“Sa tingin ko, case-to-case basis ang dapat na maging desisyon sa sitwasyon na kinakaharap natin, lalo na sa pagpapatuloy ng Enhanced Community Quarantine. Kailangan natin ng maraming pasensya dahil walang definite time kung kailan ito matatapos.”
Kapamilya star Enchong Dee also said he’s in favor of extension. He also added that until the government announced that it already under control then that’s the time quarantine should be lifted.
“Yes, I’m all for it. Until the government announces that COVID-19 is already under control, that’s the time we can probably but slowly loosen the community quarantine.”
Meanwhile, Marvin Agustin posted, “Mahirap pero dapat. Dagdag tiis pero dagdag kaligtasan. Lord, sana po malagpasan na namin itong krisis na to🙏🏻 “
Mahirap pero dapat. Dagdag tiis pero dagdag kaligtasan. Lord, sana po malagpasan na namin itong krisis na to🙏🏻 https://t.co/TwXndgvc8U
— IG: @MarvinAgustin (@marvin_agustin) April 7, 2020
Aside from celebrities, several public officials have also agreed to the extension of the quarantine period.
Vice President Leni Robredo also said that she is in favor of the extension of the Luzon-wide lockdown because doing so will help flatten the curve based on projections.
“Sang-ayon ako dahil ‘yong nakikita natin na mga projections, makakabuti para i-flatten ‘yong curve kung hahabaan pa ito,” she said.
But she also added that the government should make sure that it will be clearly cascaded to the people so that they’ll fully understand the reason for the extension.
“Pero tingin ko kasi crucial, crucial para mag-cooperate ‘yong mga tao, crucial na naiintindihan nila kung bakit kailangan ‘tong gawin. Kasi kapag hindi nila naiintidihan kung bakit kailangan ‘tong gawin, ‘yong resistance nandiyan,” she said.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto also agreed to the extension with the condition that mass testing should be started.
Pasig City Mayor @VicoSotto also in favor of extension of lockdown on the condition MASS TESTING is implemented. @DOHgovph Usec Vergiere says they are targetting 8-10,000 tests a day. However she says, mass testing doesnt mean for everyone, but vulnerable targetted individuals.
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) April 5, 2020
COVID-19 task force spokesperson Karlo Nograles said President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force to extend the quarantine to 11:59 pm of April 30 to further contain the spread of coronavirus. Under the earlier order, the present quarantine is scheduled to end at 12:00 a.m. of April 13.
“Pagkatapos ng kanyang announcement ay vinerify po namin ulit at ang sagot po ay, ang enhanced community quarantine is hereby extended until 11:59 pm of April 30,” he said in a virtual media briefing.
