Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso warned city residents to stay at home and avoid leisure activities like walking and biking amid the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Police and barangay officials have reported catching people biking and going on leisurely walks outside.
"Huwag muna masyadong naggagagala… delikado rito (Don't go strolling around too much… it's dangerous here)," Domagoso said in a press conference on Sunday (April 4). "There is time for everything, huwag niyong madaliin (don't rush it)."
Citing data from the Department of Health, he said it is still dangerous to go outside because over 10,000 additional cases are being reported daily.
The highest single-day increase of confirmed cases was on April 2 with 15,310 cases.
On Sunday, the health department reported that the country has 11,028 new confirmed cases. This puts the running total of confirmed cases at 795,051.
"You do the math. It's everywhere, I'm telling you," he warned. "You will never know who is infected or not."
The Manila mayor also bared that at least five of his staff have contracted the deadly disease. He has also been living at the Manila City Hall for the past few weeks to prevent the possible spread of infection to his family.
"Kung naghahanap ka ng COVID, lumabas ka sa bahay niyo. Kasi kami, nasa loob na ng opisina, pinupuntahan na ni COVID, eh. Ikaw, sinusundo mo pa (If you're looking to get infected with COVID-19, just go outside your house. We stay in our offices, and yet COVID-19 still comes to us. Meanwhile, you seem as if you are looking for it)," he said.
As of Sunday, the Manila city government recorded 4,279 active COVID-19 cases out of 44,214 confirmed cases.
Of this number, 39,019 have recovered while 916 have died.
The implementation of ECQ, the strictest quarantine classification, in the National Capital Region-plus was extended until April 11. It was first implemented on March 29.