MANILA, Dec 29 (NNN-PNA) – Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, retained the partial lockdown measures in the country’s capital until Jan 31, next year, as the country braces for a new virus variant, believed to spread more quickly.
Duterte said that, Metro Manila will remain under the general community quarantine from Jan 1 to 31. “The rule is to stay at home,” Duterte said.
Non-essential travel outside of homes remains prohibited. People are required to wear face coverings, wash hands, and avoid crowds.
Metropolitan Manila, the capital region with an estimated 13 million people, is the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.
The Philippines has been grappling with a steady rise in infection, despite nine months of tight quarantine measures. It now has 470,650 confirmed cases, including 9,124 deaths.
The country is on alert to prevent the new strain found in Britain from reaching its shores.
Duterte said, even if there is yet a recorded case of a new strain in the country, the government must be prepared through stricter border control, surveillance, and enhanced monitoring of cases in other countries.
The Philippines extended ban for flights from Britain for another two weeks, until mid-Jan.– NNN-PNA
