Duterte approves Metro Manila’s shift to GCQ starting June 1

MANILA, Philippines — The modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila has been downgraded into a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ).

This is after President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night approved the proposal of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to impose GCQ in the National Capital Region (NCR)—now seen as a “high-to-moderate-risk area”— starting June 1.

“You know the NCR will now be placed under the general community quarantine or the GCQ starting June 1,” Duterte said in a televised speech.

The other parts of the country that will be on GCQ are the following:

-Davao City

-Cagayan Valley

-Central Luzon

-Calabarzon

-Pangasinan

-Albay

The rest of the country will be under modified GCQ, Duterte said.

The GCQ implementation will allow more sectors to reopen as the government looks to revive the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The easing of quarantine measures came even as the Department of Health (DOH) reported a sudden spike in new cases this week.

On Thursday afternoon, the DOH reported 539 new cases—the new highest single-day increase in coronavirus infection since March 31’s 538.

Prior to this, the DOH has also recorded a total of 1,014 confirmed cases from Monday to Wednesday. However, the Health department attributed the sudden surge in new cases to its increased capacity to validate more cases.

Overall, there are now 15,588 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, including 3,598 recoveries and 921 deaths.

Limited mass transport

Once the GCQ takes effect, mass transportation will be allowed on a limited capacity, however, bus and jeepney operations are still suspended.

The Metro’s train systems will also be allowed to run as well as shuttles of private companies, transport network vehicle services, and point-to-point buses.

Meanwhile, residents of GCQ areas will be allowed to go out of their residence except for those aged below 21 and those 60 and older to limit infections. Mass gathering activities remain prohibited.