Thread: Philippines extends capital’s coronavirus lockdown to May 15

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has extended until May 15 a lockdown in the capital Manila, his spokesman said on Friday, stretching to eight weeks one of the world’s strictest community quarantines to curb coronavirus infections.





The measures will be expanded to other regions with big outbreaks but modified in lower-risk areas, which would see a partial resumption of work, transport and commerce, Harry Roque told reporters.


Television broadcast images on Friday of a crisis panel meeting where Duterte had made the decision late the previous day. He even offered a reward of 50 million pesos ($986,000) to any Filipino who could create a vaccine.


“We are all at risk, but do not increase the odds or chances of getting it,” he said, warning against complacency.


Manila, a heavily congested city of at least 13 million people and millions more informal settlers, accounts for more than two-thirds of the country’s 6,981 infections and 462 deaths.


After China and Italy, but just a few days before Spain, the Philippines became the third country to order tight lockdown and home quarantine, even though it had only a fraction of the infections and deaths of nations that took similar measures.


The Philippines introduced curbs on immigration, travel, commerce, gatherings on March 12, five days after the first case of domestic transmission, and expanded on March 16. It is closed to all except repatriated Filipinos.


The approach aims to keep overstretched health services from from being overwhelmed and create a window to ramp up testing, which started slowly to gain ground in recent weeks.


But with just 72,000 tests, the government last week estimated it had managed to track only a quarter of projected infections. The health ministry has said it was too early to say if the infection curve had been flattened.

Philippines extends capital’s coronavirus lockdown to May 15 – Thai PBS World

Yup, extended lockdown in Metro Manila and surrounding areas: Region 3 (north of Manila, Angeles city is in this region), Region 4A (south of Manila), as well as Cebu & Davao. I (and Davis, Forreachingme) live in Region 4A, so we'll be on enhanced quarantine until 15 May.

Topper and Graceless Fawn live in isolated islands (Negros island & Palawan, respectively) which have few cases, so they'll be on modified quarantine after April 30. Some businesses will be allowed to operate, but ppl still required to wear masks & practice social distancing.

Will repost this link - I've posted it in the "how has VV affected you" thread in the lounge

Duterte extends community quarantine in NCR, C. Luzon, Calabarzon, other 'high-risk' areas until May 15 | Inquirer News

This was the basis for the differences of quarantine regions: red for badly affected, orange & yellow moderate, green for low number of cases. They based the decision from doubling rate of infections and number of hospitals / ICU/ ventilators (critical care utilization rate). Hospitals in Metro Manila are still full (covid & non-covid).

"New normal" bill has been filed - features wearing of masks in public places (fine of P1,000), physical & social distancing, checking of temps

Cayetano, other solons file 'new normal' bill amid COVID-19 pandemic - Philstar.com


Attention Topper:
Bacolod city will still be on ECQ until May 15 (no easing of restrictions yet). Other provinces will ease some restrictions by May 1. (probably still no alcohol sales while on ECQ)

Palace: Bacolod City to be placed under ECQ | Inquirer News

^ Yep, Bacolod has extended its lockdown until the 15th.

Negros Occ though has gone to a GCQ.

Update: Metro Manila, Laguna province & Cebu city are still on lockdown (ECQ, enhanced community quarantine), until the end of the month. The rest of the country will be on GCQ or General Community Quarantine. GCQ still means masks & social distancing, but some businesses will be allowed to operate (construction, manufacturing, eyc) at 50 or 75% capacity. My area will still be on ECQ. Good lawd, 15 more days!

Note to self : this too shall pass...

Topper's area will shift to GCQ - slight lifting of restrictions.

EXPLAINER: What's modified ECQ and modified GCQ?

Presidential spokesperson Roque explaining: it's in Taglish (topper - it will be good practice for you to listen to this. You'll catch a few words in English and the powerpoint explanatory slides are in English too)

He even offered a reward of 50 million pesos ($986,000) to any Filipino who could create a vaccine.

It's not just Thai leaders that live in a nightmare!