Metro Manila, Calabarzon among areas to remain in enhanced quarantine until May 15
MANILA, Philippines (2nd update, 9:02 a.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to extend the enhanced community quarantine in high-risk areas until May 15.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed Friday that the president approved the recommendations to further extend the ECQ due to the new coronavirus disease.
Among those areas are the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and the provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet and Albay, and the islands of Mindoro and Catanduanes.
The task force also recommended placing the islands of Cebu and Panay and the provinces of Davao Del Norte, as well as Davao City, under ECQ.
Provinces considered high-risk are:
Region III
- Bataan
- Bulacan
- Nueva Ecija
- Pampanga
Region IV-A
- Batangas
- Cavite
- Laguna
- Rizal
- Quezon
Region IV-B
- Oriental Mindoro
- Occidental Mindoro
Region V
- Albay
- Catanduanes
Visayas
- Aklan
- Antique
- Capiz
- Cebu
- Iloilo
Mindanao
- Davao del Norte
The provinces considered high-risk will be under an enhanced community quarantine until May 15, subject to further evaluation.
The enhanced quarantine in Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Zambales may change until April 30. Davao de Oro will also be under the strict quarantine but will also be subject to rechecking.
Moderate-risk areas will be under general community quarantine until May 15 but will also be subject to evaluation.
Meanwhile, low-risk areas will be placed under a less stringent "general community quarantine" until May 15. Thus would further be relaxed to "normalization" if there is no deterioration, the IATF said.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque yesterday said Duterte would consider whether or not the country's health system has established the minimum health standards for people along with its capacity to accommodate further increases in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
The decision would also be based on the geographic risk of outbreak, age and health risks, essential sectors, and public transport, Roque said.
READ: Duterte approves Luzon-wide community quarantine until April 30
“When it comes to the economy, we're looking at what sectors of it we can already open, the people who can begin going to work, and of course, where the people going to the work can commute,” Roque wrote in his statement.
On April 7, the chief executive approved extending the lockdown of mainland Luzon until April 30.
Luzon is entering its fifth week under the enhanced community quarantine.
On Thursday, the Department of Health recorded 271 more cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the national tally to 6,981.
The World Health Organization has warned that the global pandemic had a long way to go before it would be eradicated. — Franco Luna
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Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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