Cebu City, Mandaue City under ECQ; more Luzon provinces now MECQ until May 31

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu City and Mandaue City are now under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 31, according to the national government’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) task force.

In its Resolution No. 37, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) released Saturday, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, and Angeles City in Pampanga are also placed under a modified ECQ (MECQ).

Metro Manila and Laguna, however, remain under MECQ as earlier announced.

Areas not mentioned in the resolution will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ), the IATF said.

Residents in these areas — which the IATF have classified as “high risk” to COVID-19— will continue to be severely restricted under the lockdown, with most only allowed to leave their homes to buy food and other basic necessities and in cases of emergency.

Some businesses and establishments are allowed to reopen on a limited capacity in areas under modified ECQ, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said.

The Philippines is one of many countries around the world now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At present, the Philippines has recorded 12,091 COVID-19 cases, with 2,460 recoveries and 806 deaths.

/MUF