Crowds troop to markets a day before ECQ

A day before the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starts in Metro Manila and four other provinces, shoppers trooped to markets to stock up on essential items.

At the Balintawak Market in Quezon City, vendors and shoppers milled about early on Sunday, according to a report by Luisito Santos on Dobol B TV.

Social distancing remained a challenge at the market.

Meanwhile, in Divisoria, Manila, shoppers were seen lining up outside a supermarket to stock up on necessities. 

The National Capital Region and neighboring areas were placed under the stricter ECQ anew following the spike in the number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal — designated as the “National Capital Region Plus” — will be placed under ECQ starting midnight March 29 until Sunday, April 4. 

Roque said malls will be allowed to remain open for essential stores such as groceries, pharmacies, and hardware stores.

The Philippines’ tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 712,442 on Saturday with 9,595 new infections.

Of this number, 118,122 are active cases; 581,161 have recovered; and 13,159 have died. —KG, GMA News