With the country's new quarantine status imposed for the month of February, the government has ordered a strict enforcement of health measures and scaling up of local healthcare systems to help stem the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum to the heads of government agencies about President Duterte's approval of the new quarantine level of cities and provinces from Feb. 1 to 28.

The President has extended the general community quarantine status of Metro Manila, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, for February.

Other areas under GCQ are Cordillera Administrative Region, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao del Norte, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur.

The rest of the country will stay under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in the same period.

In memorandum signed on Jan. 29, Medialdea said all areas under quarantine must continue to implement health promotion and strict enforcement of minimum public health standards, especially in high-risk areas such as healthcare settings, wet markets, supermarkets, government offices, workplaces, and at home, among others.

Localized community quarantine must be carried out in priority or critical areas with coronavirus transmission. There must be adequate number of quarantine facilities in their areas.

For all returning citizens suspect and probable cases, they must undergo immediate facility-based isolation based on the Palace memo.

Medialdea said the health care capacity of the local government units such as allocation of hospital beds must also enhanced. Complete and accurate data on contact tracing must also be submitted.

"All heads of departments, agencies, offices, instrumentalist of government, including the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, GOCCs (government owned and -controlled corporations), GFIs (government financial institutions), SUCs (state universities and colleges) and LGUs are hereby directed to strictly observe and implement the applicable guidelines provider under the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, issued by the IATF, and other relevant issuances," Medialdea said.

As of Jan. 30, the country has recorded 525,618 cases of coronavirus with 10,749 deaths.