Metro Manila will enter into another two-week strict lowdown starting August 6 to quell the rapid surge in coronavirus cases fueled by the Delta variant but it does not automatically mean a complete shutdown of the economy.
Ahead of the stricter movement curbs in the capital region, Malacañang explained the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) would not lead to a complete shutdown of the country since economic and other essential activities will still be allowed during this period.
While movement restrictions will be imposed, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the vaccination program will also push through to boost the protection of more Filipinos against the virus in the ECQ areas.
"Bukas magsisimula naman po tayo ng ECQ. Ngunit hindi po ibig sabihin na magsasara ang Pilipinas. Kaya po ngayon nandito tayo ginagawa ang selebrasyong na ito sa Megamall para ipakita na COVID or no COVID tuloy po ang pagtakbo ng ating ekonomiya (We will begin the ECQ tomorrow but it does not mean the Philippines will close down. We are celebrating today at Megamall to show that COVID or no COVID, the economy continues to run)," he said during a vaccination ceremony at SM Megamall Thursday, August 5.
After a weeklong stricter general community quarantine (GCQ), Metro Manila will return to ECQ, the most restrictive of the four lockdown levels, from August 6 to August 20, 2021 as the government moves to prevent a further spike in coronavirus cases driven by Delta strain.
The ECQ restrictions includes stay-at-home rule except for going to essential work and getting essential services, limited capacity of businesses and public transportation, travel restrictions, and ban on mass gatherings.
The government has defended the ECQ declaration, saying the movement controls would help save lives and prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. Authorities earlier reported that around 12 major hospitals have already reached critical risk as their bed capacities have started to get full.
The NCR lockdown will also be used to step up vaccination, test-trace-isolate strategy, ramp up health care capacity, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles. Cash subsidy will also be distributed to more than 10 million poor and vulnerable population affected by the ECQ in Metro Manila.