CONFIRMED: Entire Metro Manila to Be Placed Under Modified ECQ Until May 31

(SPOT.ph) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified in a press briefing on May 12 that Metro Manila will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine from May 16 to May 31. This was announced just a few days before the scheduled end of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on May 15. The National Capital Region has been under ECQ since March 16. 

Under the modified enhanced community quarantine, there will be limited movement within zones for essential services and work, while selected manufacturing and processing plants could operate up to a maximum of 50% of their workforce. There will also be limited transport services for essential goods and services. Physical classes will remain suspended.

Differing levels of quarantine will be implemented nationwide. Some regions deemed as low-risk areas will lift their respective quarantines on May 15. Check out the list below: 

Modified ECQ from May 16 to May 31

• Laguna (Region IV-A)
• National Capital Region
• Cebu City (Region VII)

General community quarantine from May 16 to May 31

• Region II
• Region III 
• Region IV-A (except Laguna)
• Cordillera Administrative Region
• Region VII (except Cebu City)
• Region IX
• Region XII
• Region XIII 

Minimum health standards (no general CQ or ECQ after May 15)

• Region I 
• Region IV-B 
• Region V 
• Region VI 
• Region VIII 
• Region X 
• Region XII
• Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

The extension of Metro Manila ECQ comes after city mayors met on May 9. The 17 heads of the Metro Manila Council discussed a possible extension in the face of growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the capital. 

As of writing, there are 7,123 confirmed cases in the National Capital Region, comprising a large chunk of the total 11,086 cases nationwide. As of May 8 data, Marikina City recorded the slowest transmission rate for COVID-19. This city, along with six others, were classified by the Department of Health to be under the "deceleration" phase of a breakout, while nine others were still deemed to have an accelerating infection rate. 

Main image by Jerome Ascano