PNP: Areas under granular lockdown down to 708

The number of areas under granular lockdown due to COVID-19 has decreased from 884 to 708, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

Based on the PNP data as of Thursday, 404  of these areas are in Cordillera, 198 in Ilocos, 84 in Cagayan, 11 in the National Capital Region, seven in Mimaropa, and four in Zamboanga.

A total of 1,306 people were affected by the restrictions.

To ensure security and adherence to minimum health standards, the PNP has deployed 164 personnel and 521 force multipliers in the locked down areas.

Local government units (LGUs) decide whether 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 Thursday, the Department of Health reported 8,702 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total infections to 3,585,461. Of which, 153,335 are still active cases. —NB, GMA News