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ECQ Extended to May 15 in Metro Manila, Other "high-risk" areas

Other areas will be put under general community quarantine.
by Jet Hitosis
Apr 24, 2020
Photo/s: Presidential Communications Operations Office
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The enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and 12 other "high-risk" areas has now been extended to May 15.

President Rodrigo Duterte made the announcement Friday, April 24.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has recommended that the Chief Executive extend the ECQ to curb the spread of coronavirus disease.

The extended ECQ is supposed to end on Thursday, April 30. There are now an additional 15 days added during which time the existing rules under an ECQ will be followed. 

Areas to be placed under ECQ are the National Capital Region (NCR); Region IV-A or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon); Region III or Central Luzon.

Central Luzon is composed of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.

The ECQ will also be implemented in Benguet, Pangasinan, Mindoro Island, Albay, Catanduanes, Panay, Cebu, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao City.

Continue reading below ↓

GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE IN OTHER AREAS

On Thursday evening, April 23, a leaked photo of the IATF resolution circulated online even before President Duterte's announcement on the ECQ extension.

The IATF resolution reveals that some areas in the country will be placed under a General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

These places, however, are not specified in the resolution.

The resolution reads: “For all other moderate-risk and low-risk administrative regions, provinces, or areas, a general community quarantine (GCQ) shall be implemented starting May 1, 2020.

“Provided that as a precondition, minimum health standards are achieved and continually observed.

“Any form of community quarantine in low-risk areas may be lifted by May 15, 2020, should no change in the risk-level occur.”

The IATF likewise recommends a minimum health standard to be implemented starting April 27.

The guidelines will be prepared by the Departments of Health (DOH), Transportation (DOTr), Trade and Industry (DTI), Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) by tomorrow, April 25.

Continue reading below ↓

The resolution also says that the implementation of all forms of community quarantine will be in accordance with this minimum health standard for health facilities, testing, and hygiene.

GCQ GUIDELINES

Based on the IATF resolution, those under GCQ may “continue to work in phases.” 

Local government units shall impose curfew at night for non-workers.

People may go out of their homes only to buy basic necessities.

Young people, senior citizens, and high-risk persons should remain at home.

Non-leisure stores in shopping malls and centers may partially open.

But there will be mandatory temperature checks, wearing of masks, and alcohol use.

Public transportation may operate at limited capacity.

Priority and essential construction projects may likewise resume subject to minimum health standards and physical distancing.

Airports and seaports may operate to allow the unhampered movement of goods.

Last month, Malacañang implemented a 30-day ECQ across the entire island of Luzon.

This, after new COVID-19 cases began to spike and the DOH confirmed local transmission.

Continue reading below ↓

As of April 23, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country is at 6,981, with 722 recoveries and 462 deaths.

 

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