Philippines Extends Lockdown
The Philippines extends lockdown to 9 weeks in several regions this weekend. According to Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, this will be the longest and most stringent lockdown in the world during Covid-19 outbreak. Duterte mentioned plans to extend the lockdown in a meeting with the Philippine co-19 task force. However, the meeting did not specifically mention the designated areas.
According to Channel News Asia, if the extension period was implemented, it would be longer than the quarantine of the area in Wuhan City which reached 76 days. Whereas in Manila, it still leaves two more weeks, since the government extend it last month.
The extension of the quarantine period in the Philippines will take up to 11 weeks or 80 days. The Philippines has recorded more than 11,000 positive cases of the coronavirus and recorded 751 deaths. So far, the Philippines has tested 158,000 people.
Besides, Philippines government asks the society to be vigilant and wear a mask.
Philippines Limit the Number of Residents Traveling
The government enforces home quarantine and permission to go out of the house to buy basic necessities and medicine for one person for each household using a private vehicle.
The atmosphere of Metro Manila today is very quiet. All offices and shops make adjustments to the hours of activity, except for security forces, medical personnel, border officers, and other community institutions who work normally.
The Philippine government reportedly only permitted one resident in every home in the capital Manila to travel outside during isolation. Thus, they can prevent the spread of the coronavirus from taking place.
Duterte decided to close access in and out of Manila for all types of transportation to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
However,, stores that provided necessities and medicines to health services remained open. The Philippine government ensures the availability of basic supplies so that people do not need to panic.