(UPDATE) Metro Manila will be under general community quarantine or GCQ with "heightened restrictions" until the end of July, Malacañang said Friday after health authorities confirmed the local transmission of the Delta variant of coronavirus in the country.
From July 23 to 31, the capital region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte will be under GCQ with "heightened restrictions."
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with the government's pandemic task force on Saturday to discuss possible changes in the country's COVID-19 protocols due to the highly contagious Delta variant of coronavirus.
Metro Manila mayors have asked the national government to reinstate stay-at-home orders for children aged five and above as a precaution against the coronavirus Delta variant, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said.
The Philippines also included Malaysia and Thailand in its travel ban until July 31, 2021, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Individuals with travel history to Malaysia and Thailand within the 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines are covered by the travel ban while those who are already in transit to Manila may be allowed to enter before 12:01 a.m. of July 25.
Those who will be allowed to enter the Philippines will be required to undergo a 14-day facility based quarantine and an RT-PCR test.
"This action is undertaken to prevent the further spread and community transmission of COVID-19 variants in the Philippines," Roque said.
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