• All religious, mass gatherings banned
• Same capacity for public transport
• Restaurants limited to outdoor seating, take-out, delivery
• Persons 17 and younger, 65 and older confined to homes
• 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. curfew remains
• Industries to continue but with fewer workers
It’s not quite a “circuit breaker lockdown,” but Malacañang announced yesterday that COVID-19 epicenter Metro Manila and four of its neighboring provinces would be placed under a “travel bubble” where mobility is restricted.
The provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will join Metro Manila in the general community quarantine (GCQ) classification from today up to April 4, according to Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution No. 104 approved last Saturday.
The four provinces used to be under the most lenient modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), where almost all industries can operate and venues of public gatherings can accommodate half capacity.
Only about half of the industries can operate and mass gatherings are restricted under GCQ.
While the IATF approved tighter measures during its emergency meeting last weekend, Malacañang clarified that the government is not imposing a lockdown because the economy would remain open.
“We have new recommendations approved by the President and we hope the new restrictions will result in lower COVID-19 numbers, ” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing yesterday.
This story is from the March 22, 2021 edition of The Philippine Star.
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This story is from the March 22, 2021 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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