Metro Manila will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until September 7, Malacañang announced on Saturday, August 28.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) retained the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status of the National Capital Region,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a message to reporters on Saturday.

It is an extension of Metro Manila’s MECQ status that was supposed to end on Tuesday, August 31.

Nearby provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna are also under MECQ until September 7.

“NCR, Bataan, and Laguna shall have added restrictions on dining, personal care services and religious activities,” said Roque.

Curfew hours in Metro Manila under the prevailing MECQ is from 8 pm to 4 am. Consumer authorized persons outside residences (APORs) or those who need to buy goods were not allowed to cross borders. Only one consumer APOR per family were allowed to go out within their city or municipality.  Authorities have referred to this as “tiny bubbles.”

The government issued the quarantine restrictions beginning September a day after the country recorded 17,447 new coronavirus cases. There are 142, 531 active cases in the country as of Friday, August 27.

The Department of Health (DOH) has also recently confirmed the community transmission of the Delta variant in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.

Malacañang announced quarantine classifications for other areas in the country from September 1 to 7.

MECQ

Luzon

• Apayao
• Ilocos Norte
• Bataan
• Lucena City

Visayas

• Aklan
• Iloilo province
• Iloilo City
• Lapu-Lapu City
• Cebu City
• Mandaue City

Mindanao

• Cagayan de Oro City

GCQ with heightened restrictions

Luzon

• Ilocos Sur
• Cagayan
• Quezon
• Batangas
• Naga City

Visayas

• Antique
• Bacolod City
• Capiz
• Cebu province
• Negros Oriental

Mindanao

• Zamboanga del Sur
• Misamis Oriental
• Davao City
• Davao del Norte
• Davao Occidental
• Davao de Oro
• Butuan City

GCQ

Luzon

• Baguio City
• Santiago City
• Quirino
• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Tarlac
• Puerto Princesa

Visayas

• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental

Mindanao

• Zamboanga Sibugay
• Zamboanga City
• Zamboanga del Norte
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Sur
• General Santos City
• Sultan Kudarat
• Sarangani
• North Cotabato
• South Cotabato
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Dinagat Islands
• Cotabato City

All other areas shall be the least strict modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

– Rappler.con