More areas in PH placed under stricter lockdown | Inquirer News

More areas in PH placed under stricter lockdown

/ 05:22 AM August 16, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang placed more areas in the country under the stricter general community quarantine (GCQ) on Saturday from the more relaxed version of the COVID-19 pandemic containment measure until the end of the month.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the GCQ currently in Batangas province, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, and the municipalities of Minglanilla and Consolacion in Cebu province would be extended up to Aug. 31.

Moving to GCQ from modified GCQ starting Aug. 16 are Nueva Ecija, Quezon Province and Iloilo City, he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Metro fate known on Monday

The President will announce on Monday whether he would change the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status of Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna, said Roque.

FEATURED STORIES

The MECQ is the strictest level currently in force, and was imposed on the national capital and nearby provinces in response to an appeal from medical groups for a “time out” as COVID-19 cases continued to rise in the country, especially in the Mega Manila area.

The rest of the country would be under modified general community quarantine, the least restrictive quarantine level.

Article continues after this advertisement

IATF recommendations

President Duterte approved the adjustments in the quarantine restrictions recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which based its decision on the epidemic risk level, the economic, social and security considerations, and the appeals and commitment of local governments, according to Roque.

Article continues after this advertisement

He said the National Task Force on COVID-19 and the Department of the Interior and Local Government were directed to ensure that localized, or “granular” lockdowns, would be imposed on areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases.

The Philippines recorded 157,918 COVID-19 cases and 2,600 deaths on Saturday.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: coronavirus Philippines, COVID-19, Metro Manila

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.