PNP: 844 areas under granular lockdown nationwide

The number of areas under granular lockdown due to COVID-19 cases has increased to 844 from 765, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.

PNP data showed that, as of Wednesday, 233 of these areas were in the National Capital Region (NCR), 210 in Cordillera, 203 in Cagayan, 165 in Ilocos, 18 in Mimaropa, and 15 in Western Visayas.

A total of 2,083 people were affected by the granular lockdowns.

To ensure security and adherence to minimum health standards, 297 PNP personnel and 550 force multipliers have been deployed to the areas under lockdown.

Local government units (LGUs) decide whether or not to impose or lift a granular lockdown on a house, compound, street, or building based on the number of infections reported.

Granular lockdowns are micro-level area COVID-19 quarantines for "critical zones" in LGUs.

On Wednesday, the Philippines reported 22,958 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the total to 3,293,625, according to the Department of Health. Active cases are 270,728.

The country's fatality tally rose to 53,044, with 82 new deaths, the DOH said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News