President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation sent by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Therefore, he has decided to extend the enhanced community quarantine in high-risk areas including Metro Manila until May 15 to prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed this on Friday.
Photo of lockdown sign, credit: unsplash.com
Along with the National Capital Region (NCR), regions whose lockdown are to be extended include:
- Central Luzon
- Calabarzon
The following provinces will also continue to be on enhanced community quarantine:
- Pangasinan
- Benguet
- Albay
- Mindoro
- Catanduanes
Meanwhile, IATF recommended adding Cebu and Panay and the provinces of Davao Del Norte, including Davao City, on enhanced community quarantine.
The lockdown in Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Zambales may be eased, extended, or lifted by April 30. A re-evaluation will also be done on Davao de Oro.
Moderate-risk areas will be under general community quarantine until May 15 but will also be subject to further evaluation.
Meanwhile, low-risk areas will be placed under the general community quarantine until May 15. Thus would further be relaxed to “normalization” if there is no deterioration, the IATF said.
Roque mentioned on Thursday that the president would consider whether or not the country’s health system has established the minimum health standards for people along with its capacity to accommodate further increases in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
This would also depend on the geographic risk of an outbreak, age and health risks, essential sectors, and public transport, Roque said.
The extension of the ECQ until May 15 is subject to further evaluation.
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