Extend MECQ, ECQ or GCQ: List of areas post-May 31 fate

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) are expected to announce this week the decision whether to extend or downgrade areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ (MECQ), and general community quarantine (GCQ) post-May 31.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Photo courtesy of Karl Norman /Presidential Photo

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a radio interview that the IATF will meet on Monday and Wednesday to discuss what will happen as lockdown levels lapse on May 31.

LIVESTREAM: Duterte addresses the nation May 28 on ECQ, MECQ fate

Roque added some good news saying doubling rate of coronavirus disease infection is now around 30 days.

“Encouraging naman po dahil may nabasa rin ako ngayon na UP research na nagpapakita na talagang karamihan ng lugar sa Pilipinas ay mahigit kumulang ang doubling rate na ng sakit ay napakatagal na," he said.

SEE ALSO: Duterte readying money to buy COVID-19 vaccine

Roque said the final say if quarantine protocols would be eased even more will come from the Department of Health (DOH).

According to him, guidelines on community quarantine are now being finalized.

“Isinasapinal na po iyong guidelines kasi importante ngayon dapat malinaw kung ano iyong GCQ, iyong buhay GCQ at saka buhay Modified GCQ (MGCQ) dahil doon nga papunta," he said.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Saturday that Metro Manila will "more likely" be placed under GCQ on June 1.

"More likely mag G-GCQ na tayo by June 1. So hindi pa tayo makakapag-loosen up completely dahil ang purpose natin dito, although yung ating cases ng covid hindi na tumataas, medyo nag-lelevel off na, we would like to impress in our people yung self-discipline," he said.

Government officials remind the public of health protocols under the "new normal': consistently wearing facemask, washing hands, staying healthy, eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising.

Roque earlier said it is likely possible to impose GCQ nationwide by August.

“Pero sa ngayon po (For now), for purposes of planning, we’re assuming that with (the) cooperation of everyone, pupwede na po na buong Pilipinas ay mag-GCQ (it is possible that the entire Philippines may be under GCQ) by August,” Roque said in a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4.

ECQ, the most stringent community quarantine, has been imposed in Cebu and Mandaue cities until May 31.

Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, and Angeles City have been placed under MECQ.

The rest of the areas in the country are under GCQ.

List of areas and the updated community quarantine

Region	Province/City	Current Community Quarantine	June 1-15
NCR	Metro Manila	MECQ	GCQ
Region 1	Pangasinan	GCQ	GCQ
Region 2	Batanes	GCQ	GCQ
Region 2	Isabela	GCQ	GCQ
Region 2	Nueva Vizcaya	GCQ	GCQ
Region 2	Quirino	GCQ	GCQ
Region 3	Bataan	MECQ	GCQ
Region 3	Bulacan	MECQ	GCQ
Region 3	Nueva Ecija	MECQ	GCQ
Region 3	Pampanga	MECQ	GCQ
Region 3	Zambales	MECQ	GCQ
Region 3	Angeles City	MECQ	GCQ
Region 3	Tarlac	GCQ	GCQ
Region 4A	Laguna	MECQ	GCQ
Region 4A	Cavite	GCQ	GCQ
Region 4A	Batangas	GCQ	GCQ
Region 4A	Rizal	GCQ	GCQ
Region 4A	Quezon	GCQ	GCQ
Region 5	Albay	GCQ	GCQ
Region 7	Cebu City	ECQ	Modified GCQ
Region 7	Mandaue	ECQ	GCQ
Region 11	Davao City	GCQ	GCQ
Rest of the country		GCQ	Modified GCQ

As of May 24, there are 14,035 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines. Of the 258 new cases on Saturday, 195 or 75% were from the NCR.

Modified IATF guidelines

IATF through its Resolution 38 approved on May 22 has revised the guidelines for the nationwide community quarantine to allow more businesses to operate at full capacity.

READ: Revised IATF guidelines now allow full ops of some businesses

— The Summit Express