PNP tallies 52,000 quarantine violators since start of stricter ‘NCR Plus’ quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 52,745 individuals in Metro Manila and four adjacent provinces were recorded to have violated quarantine protocols since the government reimposed a more stringent quarantine over the so-called NCR Plus bubble on March 29, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

Of the total, 41,049 were warned, 8,266 were fined while 3,430 were arrested, General Debold Sina, PNP chief, said during the pre-recorded briefing of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The most number of violations recorded were the non-wearing of face shields, which constitutes up to 51.1% of the total violations, or 26,939.

This is followed by the non-wearing of face masks with 14,122 violators recorded, or 26.8% of the total.

Meanwhile, 341 individuals were cited for conducting mass gatherings, 4,740 were found not observing social distancing, and 6,603 were found violating the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

A total of 38,715 individuals were caught violating the curfew in the NCR Plus bubble.

Of that number, 22,985 were warned, 14,247, were fined, and 1,483 were required to do community service.

Metro Manila recorded the most number of curfew violators at 31,168, followed by Cavite at 3,212, and Rizal at 2,165.

Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Bulacan was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting March 29 until April 11 to curb the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases.

Those areas shifted to a less stringent modified ECQ starting April 12 until the end of the month.

As of Monday, April 12, the Philippines has 876,225 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 157,451 active cases, 703,625 recoveries, and 15,149 deaths.

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