MANILA, Philippines — If the government opted to place Metro Manila and nearby provinces under a stricter quarantine classification or modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) with the rising number of COVID-19 cases, hunger and unemployment would have worsened, the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) said on Tuesday.
Neda acting chief Karl Chua, in presenting a cost-benefit analysis of placing NCR and nearby areas under MECQ or its equivalent, said imposing the stricter quarantine classification would prevent up to 266,194 new COVID-19, and stop up to 4,738 new deaths.
It would also prevent 11,626 new severe or critical cases.
However, 58,000 more Filipino…
Keep on reading: Neda: Return to MECQ would have worsened hunger, unemployment