Last night, the Philippine government announced about quarantine measures for Metro Manila and the four surrounding states from August 19.
Regarding the content of the announcement, Metro Manila and the four surrounding states will be relaxed to the same GCQ as in Cebu City announced on August 15th. The details of the regulation have not yet been announced.
This measure will be effective until August 31st.
Below are the quarantine levels and regions throughout the Philippines.
[General Community Quarantine (GCQ)]
・Manila Metropolitan Area ・Central Luzon (Region 3) Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Calabarzon (City 4A) Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Quezon, West Visayas (Region 6) ) Iloilo City/Central Visayas (Region 7) Cebu City, Lapu Lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Minglanilla Town, Consolacion Town
[Changed General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)]
・All regions except GCQ
Quarantine period: August 16, 2020 (August 19) to August 31, 2020
■Philippines lockdown measures (from top to bottom)
1) Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)
2) Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)
3) General community quarantine (GCQ)
4) Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)
5) New Normal *Total lockdown is exceptionally tougher than above
On August 15, yesterday, the Philippine government announced about quarantine measures from August 16 to August 31.
In terms of announcements, Cebu City and Lapu Lapu City (the island with Cebu Airport) will continue to be GCQ, and other areas with relatively low risk of infection will be MGCQ.
This measure will be effective until August 31st.
The following Metro Manila and MECQ areas in the four surrounding states are expected to announce further quarantine measures by August 18.
Below are the quarantine levels and regions announced by the Philippine government.
[General Community Quarantine (GCQ)]
・Central Luzon (Region 3) Nueva, Ecija, Calabarzon (Region 4A), Batangas, Quezon, West Visayas (Region 6) Iloilo, Central Visayas (Region 7), Cebu, Lapu Lapu, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Minglanilla Town, Consolation Town
[Changed General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)]
All regions except MECQ and GCQ
Quarantine period: August 15 to August 31, 2020
The following MECQ areas are expected to announce quarantine measures by August 18.
[Modified and enhanced community segregation measures (MECQ)]
・All over Metropolitan Manila ・Bulacan in central Luzon (Region 3) ・Cavite, Laguna, Rizal in Calabarzon (Region 4A)
Main Quarantine Period: August 4 to August 18, 2020
■Philippines lockdown measures (from top to bottom)
1) Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)
2) Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)
3) General community quarantine (GCQ)
4) Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)
5) New Normal *Total lockdown is exceptionally tougher than above
Beginning August 15, public transport users will be required to wear a face shield throughout the Philippines.
It is mandatory to wear the face mask, which was previously required, and an additional face shield at the same time.
Currently, all public transportation such as aircraft, ships, buses, taxis, jeepneys, etc. are covered.
It seems that you will be asked to wear it at the airport facility.
The current stricter Metro Manila Lockdown (MECQ) is expected until August 18th and the measures are expected to be relaxed thereafter.
Today, the Philippines quarantine measures have been announced since July 16th.
After an interview with President Duterte yesterday evening on July 15th and then again until the dawn of the IATF, the Philippine government officially announced today about quarantine measures after July 16th.
Excerpting the contents, although the infection doubling index in the Philippines is stable and the spread of infection is relatively suppressed and the number of seriously ill patients is small, there are still new infected people, and hospitals and isolation facilities In view of the burden of the above, it is said that in order to prevent the further spread of infection, we will continue the measures outlined above and prepare for the future spread of infection.
Specifically, the Metro Manila Lapu Lapu City (Mactan Island) continued to have quarantine measures such as GCQ and Cebu City, MECG. This measure will be effective until July 31st.
[Changed Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)]
Cebu City
[General Community Quarantine (GCQ)]
Metro Manila Lapu Lapu City (Mactan Airport Island)
Laguna Province Cavite Province Mandaue City Ormoc City South Leyte Zamboanga City Butuan City Agusan del Norte Basilane Cebu Province (Talisay City, Minglanilla, Concepcion)
[Changed General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)]
Other than the above, it is basically MGCQ.
By the way, the lockdown measures in the Philippines are in strict order from the top,
1) Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)
2) Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)
3) General community quarantine (GCQ)
4) Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)
5) New Normal *Exceptionally stricter than the above is the total lockdown imposed locally.
It's been four months since Lockdown started in Metro Manila on March 16th, and it's still ongoing. Basically, all types of work except mandatory occupations and permitted occupations are prohibited. Especially, elderly people, children, pregnant women and people with a high risk of illness are not allowed.
However, regulations have been gradually relaxed, permitting occupations and public transportation to be gradually permitted, and finally, eating and drinking in McDonald's shop was carried out.
Also, the current quarantine measures are up to today, and the quarantine measures from tomorrow will be announced today, probably at midnight. If you take the lockdown measures one step lower, the degree of freedom will increase a little.
It seems to be a balance between newly infected people and the economy, but the Philippine government seems to be considering a new face mask law in preparation for the new normal. For the sake of economy, I would like all the people to raise their awareness of corona countermeasures and move to New Normal as soon as possible.
Metro Manila has become a general community quarantine (called GCQ in the Philippines) since June 1st, and is gradually easing various restrictions from the initial stage of lockdown. The number of industries that can start business is increasing. Many industries, such as restaurants, are allowed to operate up to 50%, but it seems that many of them support delivery or takeout.
Social distancing is strictly adhered to in the city. As a result, some public transportation services have been canceled, but due to major restrictions on the number of flights and the number of people, the number of trains will be reduced and temporary buses will be operated. The turmoil has begun.
