Barely two days after placing Metro Manila under community quarantine, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he is placing Luzon under enhanced community quarantine. Government officials also discussed the guidelines of the extended quarantine meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Greater scope of the enhanced community quarantine
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo revealed the decision in a message sent to reporters in the afternoon. Panelo said that the new decree will take effect immediately. But he stressed that the government will give people who are heading home from work enough time. It will last until April 12.
The President initially placed Metro Manila under community quarantine on Friday to halt the spread of COVID-19. The latest updates coming from the Department of Health showed that the country already has 140 cases of the disease with 12 confirmed deaths.
Under the new declaration, all citizens will be subject to strict home quarantine and would not be allowed to go outside. All mass transportation lines are also suspended, except for the following:
- Vehicles carrying frontline health workers
- Vehicles carrying authorized government officials
- Vehicles transporting basic goods and services
- Vehicles transporting people for humanitarian or medical reasons.
Panelo said there will be uniformed personnel who will be monitoring the traffic situation.
Following the suspension of mass transportation, Duterte also ordered the suspension of work. Government offices will maintain a skeletal workforce to respond to people’s needs. On the other hand, all business establishments are required to be closed starting today.
The only exception to the closure orders are establishments essential to food and medicine production and distribution. These include supermarkets, public markets, groceries, convenience stores, and water-refilling stations. Food delivery services will also remain operational.
Rationing of necessities.
Panelo also said that, as part of the enhanced community quarantine, food and other necessities will be delivered to quarantined homes. He added that local government units will be the ones in charge of developing an effective delivery system for their respective communities.
The Presidential Spokesperson stressed that these LGUs will also be responsible for ensuring that there will be no panic buying in their areas. He also assured that there will be enough supplies for everyone.
The stricter directive came in after thousands of people flocked to Metro Manila’s entry points on Monday morning to get to work. The government’s earlier community quarantine directive allowed people living outside of the National Capital Region to enter for work. However, the massive influx of people negated the purpose of the initial directive to promote social distancing.