NCR, select provinces back to MECQ on Aug. 4

MANILA: Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan will be placed in MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) from August 4 until August 18.

This is President Duterte’s swift response to the plea of the medical community to tighten restrictions in order to slow the transmission of the virus and let medical personnel and healthcare facilities cope with the surge of patients coming in sick with COVID-19.

“I have heard the call of different groups from the medical community for a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Mega Manila. I fully understand why you, health workers, would like to ask for such a timeout. They have been in the frontlines for months and they are exhausted,” said President Duterte.

As of August 2 (Sunday), 5,032 more Filipinos were infected with COVID-19 (a new daily high) taking the nationwide tally to 103,185. The NCR (National Capital Region) has majority of the new cases with 2,737; Cavite with 463; Cebu with 449; Laguna with 326; and Rizal with 201. The remaining are from various other provinces across the country.

Active cases total 35,569. Over 90% of it are mild cases, 8.2% are asymptomatic, 1% are severe, and 0.7% are critical.

The DOTr (Department of Transportation) quickly responded by issuing a statement about the changes to private and public transportation in areas that will revert to MECQ.

Operations of public transportation shall be halted except shuttle services ferrying medical personnel and frontline workers employed in permitted services.

Rail lines (LRT, MRT, and PNR), PUBs (public utility buses), PUJs (public utility jeeps), taxis, TNVS (transport network vehicle services like Grab), and tricycles are all prohibited from operating.

Workers in permitted industries can be ferried by company shuttle but only at 50% capacity.

Private vehicles are allowed for persons in permitted industries but only with a maximum of two occupants per row.

Bicycles, scooters/e-scooters, and motorcycles are allowed but strictly for one passenger only.

Local governments in the various areas under MECQ are directed to intensify the localized lockdown strategy to ensure the effectivity of the quarantine protocols.

Photo from DOTr

Also read: Motorists, beware the LTO violations for breaking quarantine protocols