Duterte has put Metro Manila under general community quarantine until August 15, while other areas in the country are put under varying degrees of quarantine.

Santiago said the 15-day ECQ will serve as a "time out" to "recalibrate the government's COVID-19 strategies."

The groups also stressed in the letter that the country needs to "come up with a consolidated plan" because it is in a "losing battle against COVID-19."

The groups said the ECQ is needed as healthcare frontliners "cannot hold the line for much longer."

Duterte is scheduled to meet key cabinet officials later on Sunday to discuss the concerns raised by the medical community, his spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Sunday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a statement posted on the DOH Facebook page on Sunday that the government "will revisit and include the inputs we have gathered in our overall game plan," referring to the issues raised by the medical workers.

"We support the call of our frontliners to ensure a science-based approach and stricter implementation of community quarantine measures," Duque further said.

As of July 31, the DOH said at least 4,938 health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Of these, 38 have died and 4,544 have recovered.

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