Metro Manila rules tightened as longer curfew on

MANILA, Philippines, March 16 ------ Certain businesses were again shut down, liquor bans were reimposed, designated smoking areas in workplaces and public establishments were prohibited in several areas yesterday as longer curfew hours began last night in Metro Manila to curb a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Police and barangay personnel began apprehending violators of health protocols, imposing fines and requiring those caught to attend lectures.

The tighter restrictions coincided with the first anniversary of the imposition of community quarantine or partial lockdown in Metro Manila and the town of Cainta, Rizal, hometown of the second Filipino to be infected with COVID-19 in the country. Today marks the anniversary of the expansion of the community quarantine to the entire Luzon. The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was repeatedly extended in the next months even as COVID cases surged and the economy plunged into its worst post-war recession.

In Quezon City, the local government yesterday shut down bars, gyms and internet cafés and restricted the operations of restaurants. Designated smoking areas in offices and public places were prohibited to minimize opportunities for taking off masks. The Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday the biggest single-day jump in COVID cases in seven months, with 5,404 fresh infections bringing the total to 626,893. It was the fourth highest single-day total recorded since the start of the pandemic.

Despite the spike, which the DOH continues to refuse to describe as a surge, and the possibility that more infectious COVID variants are fueling the rapid increase, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said they’re not ruling out a strict lockdown next month if the spike in cases continues. Muntinlupa, which imposed a liquor ban like Quezon City and several other local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, will have the longer curfew hours in effect until April 4 instead of the end of March.

Makati has reported that it is running out of COVID hospital beds as cases jump. Caloocan City is again requiring quarantine passes for shopping. The OCTA Research team warned that with the current infection trend, daily cases in Metro Manila could surge to 20,000. A member of OCTA, University of the Philippines mathematics professor Guido David, had suggested last week that a “one-time, big-time” two-week lockdown, to coincide with the Lenten break, be imposed to stop the surge in its tracks.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) rejected this yesterday.

Source: philstar.com