Quarantine violators exceed 20,000

This foreboding sign for many residents of packed Metro Manila communities will be a familiar sight again as the metropolis goes on ECQ Aug. 6-20. FILE PHOTO/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The number of quarantine violators zoomed from 4,394 on Saturday to over 20,000 on Sunday as reports poured in from outside Metro Manila, according to Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police.

Eleazar said in a statement that from Aug. 6 to 4 a.m the next day, 5,781 individuals were cited for violating curfew rules while 14,775 were nabbed for defying COVID-19 health protocols, such as not wearing of face masks and face shields, and mass gathering.

Metro Manila is on enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from Aug. 6 to Aug. 20 due to the threat of the more infectious Delta variant.

Eleazar said Metro Manila had the highest number of violators with 4,394.

Of this figure, 605 were warned; 1,235 were fined; 353 were released for filing of complaints; while 2,201 underwent community service.

In Cavite, which is on modified ECQ, 540 individuals violated the curfew rules followed by Laguna, which is on ECQ with 471 violators.

Rizal, which is on modified ECQ, had 370 curfew violators while Bulacan, which is on general community quarantine with heightened restrictions, had six violators.

No face masks

In Metro Manila and in the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite, 2,749 violated the mandatory wearing of face masks, 3,229 did not properly wear their face masks while 5,649 did not have face shields.

The PNP also recorded 2,201 violators for improper wearing of face shields.

Eleazar said 35 individuals violated the prohibition on mass gathering.

He added that 58 individuals were documented to have claimed to be authorized persons outside of residence but were not able to show proof while 902 violated the physical distancing rule.

Citing the thousands of violators on the first day of the strict lockdown, Eleazar assured the public that the police would further intensify the monitoring of quarantine control points especially in areas where there are a high number of cases of the Delta variant.

“Once again, we request the discipline and cooperation of every citizen so that our current situation will not worsen,” he said.