Duterte extends GCQ in Metro Manila until June 30

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday extended until June 30 the general community quarantine in Metro Manila amid the continued spike in COVID-19 infections in the country.

Cebu City was shifted back to an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) after the national government said that it was monitoring a spike in cases in the city.

The increasing number of new cases and widespread community transmission in majority of barangays in the city, as well as consistent case doubling time of less than seven days and significant increase in critical care utilization against critical care capacity, were the reasons cited for bringing the provincial capital back under the ECQ.

Talisay City in Cebu was placed under modified ECQ for the same reasons.

The new quarantine classifications over the two cities will be in effect until June 30.

Duterte’s decision comes after the Inter-Agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious Diseases made deliberations aimed at providing the President with recommendations on the fate of the movement restrictions.

The IATF also tackled the appeals of several local government units on their quarantine classifications. Cebu City, the Caraga region, the Davao provinces, Pampanga, and Lanao del Sur were among the places in the country that asked for a reclassification of their quarantine status.

The following, in summary, are the levels of community quarantine in the country until June 30,  as recommended by the IATF and as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday after midnight.

Enhanced Community Quarantine

Cebu City

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine

Talisay City in Cebu

General Community Quarantine

Luzon -- NCR, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City in Region II; Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Olongapo City in Region III; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon in Region IV-A, and Occidental Mindoro in Region IV-B

Visayas -- Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Mandaue City, Lau-Lapu City
Mindanao -- Davao City and Zamboanga City
Modified General Community Quarantine

READ: ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, MGQ, new normal: How they differ from one another

Rest of the country

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said the data on the doubling time of cases, critical care capacity and the economy would aid the government in deciding whether to maintain, tighten or further ease restrictions.

As of Monday, the Philippines reported 26,420 COVID-19 cases, with 1,098 deaths and 6,252 recoveries. Experts from the University of the Philippines have projected the number of cases may reach the 40,000 mark by June 30.

The Department of Health said the government aims to test 1.5% of the country’s population by the end of July.  -NB/KG, GMA News