Palace: New quarantine classifications may be announced Friday

In this August 20, 2020, photo, passengers wear face shields and face masks along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — New quarantine classifications over Metro Manila, four adjacent provinces — also known as the “NCR Plus bubble” — and other areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) may be announced on Friday, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is set to meet on Friday to discuss their recommendation on new quarantine classifications.

Their recommendations will then be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte, after which he will decide if he approves or not.

“Inaasahan natin na itatawag na lang natin kay Presidente ang rekomendasyon at magdedesisyon ang Presidente kung approve siya o hindi,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

(The recommendation will be submitted to the President and he will decide whether he approves or not.)

“Ang anunsyo sa bagong quarantine classification most likely sa darating na Biyernes,” he added.

(The announcement of new quarantine classifications may most likely be made on Friday.)

Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Ifugao province were placed under MECQ until May 14.

JE