President Duterte has ordered three areas to be under a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) after the initially extended ECQ comes to a close this Friday, May 15.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City will be under the modified ECQ until May 31 following the decisions of the president after meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infections Diseases (IATF-EID). Statistics point that the three areas combined have a total population of 16 million individuals.
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“Ang modified po na ECQ is ECQ kaya lang may ilang industriya na bubuksan hanggang 50 porsiyento at mayroon pa rin ilang zona, mga barangay, o grupo ng mga barangay na mananatili pa rin sa ECQ,” revealed Roque during a press briefing.
The decision follows President Duterte’s announcement that the country cannot afford another wave of new infections of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“We cannot afford a second or third wave na mangyari (to happen),” said President Duterte.
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President Duterte’s pronouncement marks the third extension and revision for the quarantine measures set by Philippine government authorities following its declaration last March 17.
It furthered that areas that are under the general community quarantine (GCQ) are those which have low to moderate risk, while those under the ECQ or modified ECQ are considered as high risk areas.
