Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) — The current restrictions in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces will remain in place for two more weeks, after the government announced on Monday the extension of the general community quarantine "with restrictions" in these areas.
“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, May 31, 2021, approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to extend the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, or NCR Plus, starting June 1 until June 15, 2021,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
Prior to this announcement, Duterte said in his weekly address that "GCQ with restrictions" will be observed until June 30 in NCR Plus. Roque later clarified that this will only be until June 15.
“Some restrictions, however, shall still be in place in NCR Plus limiting the capacities of certain industries,” Roque added.
Malacañang did not expound on the difference between "GCQ with restrictions" and the previous "GCQ with heightened restrictions."
Under GCQ with heightened restrictions, indoor dining is allowed at 20% seating capacity while al fresco or outdoor dining is permitted at 50% capacity. Tourist attractions in the area may also open at 30% capacity. Personal care services that do not require removing masks, including salons, parlors, and beauty clinics, are allowed at 30% capacity. Non-contact sports, games and scrimmages held outdoors are also permitted.
Metro Manila Council Chairman and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez on Tuesday said the 10pm-4am curfew will continue.
According to the Department of Health, NCR Plus is not yet considered to be in a "safe zone," as the rate of decline in infections has been slower in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Baguio City, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Quezon, Iligan City, Davao City, Lanao del Sur, and Cotabato City will be under GCQ for the whole month of June.
The following areas will also be under strict modified enhanced community quarantine until June 15: Santiago City, Cagayan, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City, and Agusan del Sur.
The rest of the country will be under modified GCQ for the whole month.
The DOH has warned of gradual and sustained increase in cases in Visayas and Mindanao. Health Department spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the healthcare utilization rates in several regions in both areas are already nearing the high-risk level.
There are now 1,230,301 COVID-19 cases in the country, of which 54,290 or 4.4% are active cases.
Source: CNN Philippines (https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/6/1/June-GCQ-quarantine-classification.html)
In close partnership with government, businesses, civil society, and academia, ECCP passionately works to enhance the business environment for both European and Filipino companies.