Metro Manila, 9 other areas still under GCQ until March 31

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the government coronavirus task force to keep Metro Manila and 9 other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) until March 31.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday, February 27, announced on state-run PTV that the following areas will remain under GCQ from March 1 to March 31:

• Metro Manila
• Apayao
• Baguio City
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Batangas
• Tacloban City
• Iligan City
• Davao City
• Lanao del Sur

Baguio City and Batangas, in particular, are popular summer destinations.

The rest of the country will be under the least strict modified GCQ (MGCQ).

Metro Manila has been under GCQ since June 2020. Metro Manila mayors had recommended that the capital region be eased into MGCQ starting March to boost economic activity, which health experts had advised against following the detection of the more contagious UK COVID-19 variant in the country.

On Friday, the Philippines logged its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day in 4 months –  2,651 cases, bringing total infections in the country to 571, 327.– Rappler.com