Some NCR Plus areas ease curfew hours in transition from ECQ to MECQ

Some areas in the NCR Plus have adjusted their curfew hours as they transitioned from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to less strict modified ECQ (MECQ) on Monday.

With the previous implementation of ECQ in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal or collectively called as “NCR Plus,” the curfew hours were set from 6 p.m. to  5 a.m.

In a Facebook post on Monday, the Province of Rizal updated its curfew hours to 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For his part, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said the provincial government has reset its curfew hours to 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. as part of its MECQ guidelines.

On Sunday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that all 17 mayors in the National Capital Region have agreed to enforce a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Metro Manila and the four surrounding provinces are placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from April 12 until April 30.

Due to the rising COVID-19 cases, the government placed NCR Plus under stricter community quarantine classification with a new set of regulations such as in restriction in mobility, business operations, and gatherings.

Several health groups warned that the healthcare system was on the verge of collapsing due to the overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients being brought to hospitals.

Earlier, the OCTA Research recommended to the government to extend the ECQ in NCR Plus for another week or impose MECQ for two weeks to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

On Sunday, the Department of Health reported 11,681 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total cases to 864,868 and the total active cases to 146,519.

At least 201 more COVID-19 patients have died, bringing the death toll to 14,945, according to the DOH. — Joviland RIta/RSJ, GMA News