MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte declared the extension of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the Capital Region (NCR), CALABARZON, Central Luzon and other 'high-risk' areas until May 15.
This was announced by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque via taped public address aired on Friday morning, April 24, as the president accepted the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
"Panatilihin ang ECQ sa NCR, Region 3, Region 4A and all other areas na mataas ang banta ng COVID-19 hanggang May 15," Roque said.
LIVESTREAM: President Rodrigo Duterte's address (April 24, 2020)
Provinces considered high-risk in Region III include Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. High-risk provinces in Region IV-A are Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon. Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro comprise high-risk provinces in Region IV-B while Albay and Catanduanes are the high-risk provinces in Region V. Benguet in CAR, Pangasinan in Region I, Tarlac and Zambales in Region III may change by April 30.
In the Visayas, the IAFT considered Antique, Iloilo, Cebu and Cebu City high-risk, all subject to recheck, Aklan and Capiz, which are both subject to ECQ. In Mindanao, Davao del Norte and Davao City are considered high-risk, while Davao de Oro is subject to ECQ and subject to recheck.
High-risk areas will be under ECQ until May 15, subject for further evaluation. Moderate-risk areas meanwhile will be under general community quarantine until May 15, also subject for further evaluation. Low-risk areas will fall under general community quarantine until May 15, and if there is no deterioration, GCQ will be relaxed leading to normalization.
The following are areas under general community quarantine that are subject to further review:
The moderate-risk provinces are:
Meanwhile, the low-risk areas are:
The IATF likewise recommended a minimum health standard to be implemented starting April 27. The Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will prepare the guidelines by April 25.
Areas previously under ECQ but remain under GCQ will allow workers to go out and work in phases. Young people, senior citizens and high health risk would stay at home.
For GCQ areas, restricted mall opening covering non-leisure shops would be allowed. There will be mandatory temperature check, mandatory wearing of masks, mandatory alcohol use. Limited number of people, particularly those with age 21 to 59, with ID and not looking sickly, would be allowed to go inside.
Priority and essential construction projects would likewise be allowed to resume, subject to minimum health standards, physical distancing, and barracks for workers. Public transport modes would likewise be allowed to operate at reduced capacity. Local government units (LGUs) would enforce curfew at night for non-workers.
Summary: conditions under general community quarantine
The decision on ECQ and GCQ were based on the risk of outbreak. Areas under ECQ would again undergo evaluation if the decision can be relaxed starting May 16, 2020.
As of Thursday, the country has recorded 6,981 cases of COVID-19, with the number of those surviving from the disease reaching 722, outnumbering the 462 reported deaths.
— The Summit Express
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| President Rodrigo Duterte meets members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday, April 23. |
This was announced by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque via taped public address aired on Friday morning, April 24, as the president accepted the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
"Panatilihin ang ECQ sa NCR, Region 3, Region 4A and all other areas na mataas ang banta ng COVID-19 hanggang May 15," Roque said.
LIVESTREAM: President Rodrigo Duterte's address (April 24, 2020)
Provinces considered high-risk in Region III include Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. High-risk provinces in Region IV-A are Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon. Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro comprise high-risk provinces in Region IV-B while Albay and Catanduanes are the high-risk provinces in Region V. Benguet in CAR, Pangasinan in Region I, Tarlac and Zambales in Region III may change by April 30.
In the Visayas, the IAFT considered Antique, Iloilo, Cebu and Cebu City high-risk, all subject to recheck, Aklan and Capiz, which are both subject to ECQ. In Mindanao, Davao del Norte and Davao City are considered high-risk, while Davao de Oro is subject to ECQ and subject to recheck.
High-risk areas will be under ECQ until May 15, subject for further evaluation. Moderate-risk areas meanwhile will be under general community quarantine until May 15, also subject for further evaluation. Low-risk areas will fall under general community quarantine until May 15, and if there is no deterioration, GCQ will be relaxed leading to normalization.
The following are areas under general community quarantine that are subject to further review:
- Abra
- Ilocos Norte
- La Union
- Cagayan
- Isabela
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Marinduque
- Camarines Sur
- Aklan
- Capiz
- Samar
- Western Samar
- Zamboanga Del Sur
- Lanao Del Norte
- Misamis Occidental
- Misamis Oriental
- North Cotabato
- South Cotabato
- Maguindanao
The moderate-risk provinces are:
- Negros Occidental
- Negros Oriental
- Siquijor
- Davao Del Sur
- Davao Oriental
- Sultan Kudarat
- Lanao Del Sur
Meanwhile, the low-risk areas are:
- Apayao
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Kalinga
- Ilocos Sur
- Batanes
- Quirino
- Aurora
- Palawan
- Romblon
- Camarines Norte
- Masbate
- Sorsogon
- Guimaras
- Bohol
- Biliran
- Eastern Samar
- Leyte
- Northern Samar
- Southern Leyte
- Zamboanga Del Norte
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Bukidnon
- Camiguin
- Davao Occidental
- Sarangani
- Agusan Del Sur
- Dinagat Island
- Surigao Del Norte
- Surigao Del Sur
- Agusan Del Norte
- Basilan
- Sulu
The IATF likewise recommended a minimum health standard to be implemented starting April 27. The Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will prepare the guidelines by April 25.
Areas previously under ECQ but remain under GCQ will allow workers to go out and work in phases. Young people, senior citizens and high health risk would stay at home.
For GCQ areas, restricted mall opening covering non-leisure shops would be allowed. There will be mandatory temperature check, mandatory wearing of masks, mandatory alcohol use. Limited number of people, particularly those with age 21 to 59, with ID and not looking sickly, would be allowed to go inside.
Priority and essential construction projects would likewise be allowed to resume, subject to minimum health standards, physical distancing, and barracks for workers. Public transport modes would likewise be allowed to operate at reduced capacity. Local government units (LGUs) would enforce curfew at night for non-workers.
Summary: conditions under general community quarantine
- workers and sectors in category I, II and III may continue to work or operate in phases;
- the general population may go out of their homes only for purposes of accessing basic necessities;
- in any case, those with ages below 21 years old and those 60 years old and above as well as those with ages ranging from 21 years olf but below 60 years old but who reside with co-morbidities or other risk factors shall stay home;
- non-leisure stores in malls and shopping centers may partially open;
- higher education institutions may continue classes to finish the academic year and issue credentials to students in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the Commission on Higher Education;
- priority and essential construction projects may resume in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the DPWH;
- public transportation may operate at a reduced capacity in accordace with guidelines as may be issued by the DOTr;
- local government units shall enforce curfew at night for non-workers; and
- airports and seaports may operate insofar as the unhampered movement of goods.
The decision on ECQ and GCQ were based on the risk of outbreak. Areas under ECQ would again undergo evaluation if the decision can be relaxed starting May 16, 2020.
As of Thursday, the country has recorded 6,981 cases of COVID-19, with the number of those surviving from the disease reaching 722, outnumbering the 462 reported deaths.
— The Summit Express
