By Betheena Kae Unite The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines jumped to 3,660 Monday after the Department of Health reported 414 new cases, 11 deaths, and nine new recoveries. The total number of patients who died of the disease is now at 163 while the number of recoveries rose to 73. In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is still “too early to say that the curve of COVID-19 cases in the country is descending.” “Base sa trend na nakita natin nitong nakaraang linggo, hindi pa natin masasabi kung bumababa na ang curve o ang bilang ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa. Maaga pa para makapagsabi tayo kung ito ay bumababa na o patuloy na tumataas," she said. (Based on the trend that we’ve seen in the past weeks, we cannot say if the curve or the number of COVID-19 cases is going downward. It’s too early to say if these are decreasing or rising.) Factors on extending enhanced community quarantine A recommendation on whether or not the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) placed over Luzon should be extended must be based on the trend of cases and the healthcare capacity system of the country, Vergeire said. The DOH, she said, must first determine the trend of COVID-19 cases. They need to study whether the number of cases is rising or going downward in the next days. “Kailangang tingnan ang capacity ng healthcare system para labanan ang COVID-19. Kapag sinabi po nating kapasidad ng healthcare system, tinitingnan po natin ang laboratory capacity, tinitingnan ang kapasidad na mag-manage ng COVID-19 of hospitals, at community quarantine facilities," Vergeire said. (We also need to see the capacity of the healthcare system against COVID-19. When we say capacity of healthcare system, we are looking at the laboratory capacity, we are looking at the hospitals’ capacity to manage COVID-19 cases, and community quarantine facilities.) They first need to determine whether the country’s healthcare system against the disease has improved and prepared before the department can recommend either for the extension or end of the ECQ. Other factors like social, economic, and security must also be considered in extending or ending the quarantine period. “Kung mas mabagal ang pagdami ng kaso at maging mas handa ang ating healthcare system, magandang senyales po ito para masabi natin kung tatapusin ang enhanced community quarantine,” Vergeire said. (If the number of cases trends downward and our healthcare system has more capacity, these are good signs when we can say that we can end the ECQ.) In order to prevent the surge of COVID-19 cases in case the inter-agency task force (IATF) for emerging infectious diseases lifts the ECQ, the Health department reiterated the practice of stringent measures like physical distancing, cough etiquette, proper handwashing, and avoiding mass gatherings. Quarantine facilities The DOH also reported that the Rizal Memorial Coliseum is now ready to care for persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs) for COVID-19. It can accommodate 112 PUIs and PUMs while the Philippine International Convention Center and World Trade Center, which will be made available in the coming days, can accommodate about 300 and 500 patients respectively. The department also called on local government units to also identify facilities in their areas that can be used as community quarantine sites for PUIs and PUMs, especially for citizens who have no space at home to quarantine themselves. “Malaking tulong na magkaroon ng designated community quarantine facility sa inyong lugar, upang ang mga PUI o PUM natin ay hindi maihalo sa mga severe cass natin sa ospital, at hindi na po mas magkahawaan pa," Vergeire said. (It would be a big help to have designated community quarantine facilities in your areas to prevent the exposure of PUIs and PUMs to more severe cases in the hospitals, and to reduce contagion.)