MANILA—The modified enhanced community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila and 4 nearby provinces should be extended for at least 1 more week to rein in the spread of COVID-19, a group of experts said Tuesday.

"In agreement with the Department of Health and the medical community, we would like to recommend to the national government to extend the MECQ for at least 1 more week," Fr. Nicanor Austriaco of OCTA Research Team told ANC.

• Extending modified ECQ in Metro Manila sought, as hospitals remain full

The MECQ -- the third strictest of 4 lockdown levels -- is set to end on Friday, April 30.

The Dominican priest, who teaches biology and theology at Providence College in the United States, said the decreasing number of coronavirus cases in the so-called NCR Plus bubble was still "unstable".

"What I mean by that is that the decrease in cases is not comparable across all the LGUs (local government units) of the NCR Plus bubble," he said.

"So, the concern is that if we prematurely enter into GCQ, then the cases in 1 LGU, which are unstable, will trigger spike in adjacent LGUs and we will resurge again."

Extending the quarantine measure will also help decongest hospitals from COVID-19 admission, Austriaco said.

"In support of DOH and other hospital groups, we are saying, 'Let's do what we have to do now so we don't have to worry about it later,'" he added.

The Philippines on Monday breached the 1-million mark in COVID-19 cases, among the worst outbreaks in Asia. Nearly 17,000 have so far died from the disease.

• Philippines' COVID-19 infections top 1 million with 8,929 new cases

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday he also favored extending the MECQ as the health systems capacity in NCR Plus had yet to improve.

• Duque favors MECQ extension in Metro Manila, nearby provinces

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