MANILA, Apr 29 (NNN-PNA) – Metro Manila and its four adjacent areas will remain under strict lockdown for another two weeks starting May 1, while the government continues to curb the COVID-19 infections and decongest hospitals, Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, said.
“I’m sorry that I have to impose longer (quarantine restrictions) because it is needed, due to a spike of infections, and hospitals are full,” Duterte said, urging the people to cooperate and strictly follow health protocol.
Duterte said, he was not surprised when the Philippines’ confirmed COVID-19 cases breached the one million mark on Monday, adding that people keep on violating the lockdown laws.
“There will always be a rise, and maybe exponential of COVID-19 in the Philippines, if you continue to violate the laws. There are a lot of you out there violating and violating and repeatedly violating the laws,” he said.
Duterte directed local government officials to enforce the laws.
The government placed Metro Manila and four adjacent provinces, home to over 28 million people, under strict lockdown since Mar 29, as COVID-19 cases soar.
The Philippines has been in varying lockdown levels over the past year, when the government imposed a lockdown in mid-Mar last year. Despite the strict measures, the country still grapples with surging infections, totaling 1,020,495 as of yesterday.– NNN-PNA
