By Ana Rufa Padua and Regina Elaine Vendivil

Metro Manila will be transitioning from the ongoing General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened and additional restrictions to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) starting August 6 until August 20, due to the rise of COVID-19 Delta variant cases, Malacañang said earlier, Friday.

As of July 29, 2021, 97 more Delta variant cases were detected in the country, raising the total number of cases to 216. 

Despite the change in the quarantine classification, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque still assured the nation that there is no need to panic since the communities still have a week to prepare prior to the ECQ lockdown. 

“No need for panic buying because we have one week to prepare,” he stated.

In the Presidential Spokesperson’s televised address, the specific protocols during the said quarantine classifications were also elaborated.

In ECQ, the essential industries and establishments will still be allowed to fully operate including the hospitals, groceries, courier and delivery services. 

Meanwhile, banks, veterinarian clinics, business process outsourcing, manufacturing companies, suppliers for construction works, and services like telecommunication, internet, power and energy, water and sanitation are allowed to operate only with a skeletal workforce. 

Public transportation will be suspended.

The COVID-19 vaccination program will still proceed in the National Capital Region (NCR) even during the ECQ as vaccines are proven to be effective, offering significant protection against the Delta Variant. 

On the other hand, NCR and other areas currently under GCQ with heightened and additional restrictions shall adhere to the following protocols:

• Dining in restaurants is not allowed, only takeout or delivery
• Only 30% capacity in personal care services establishments and outdoor tourism is allowed
• Only authorized persons can travel out of the NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna)
• Physical mass, indoor sports venues, and indoor tourism are not allowed
• Public transportation is still allowed
• Wakes and funerals are allowed only for immediate family members

Additionally, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental will also be under ECQ until August 7. 

Furthermore, Roque announced during a media briefing on July 29, Thursday, that Malacañang has approved cash assistance for individuals or families with low-income living in Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) areas.

Cash assistance ranging from Php 1,000 to a maximum of Php 4,000 per family will be given out to one million beneficiaries, though Roque said on Thursday that they are not sure if they have funds to spare. 

With the approval of ECQ in Metro Manila for August 6 to 20, the President has tasked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to source funds for residents in the said area who will be affected by the new quarantine protocol.

You may refer to this article to learn more about the Delta variant or visit doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV for more updates about COVID-19.

REFERENCES:

Advice for the public on COVID-19 – World Health Organization. (2021). Retrieved July 30, 2021, from Who.int website: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Aguilar, K. (2021, July 30). Duterte to DBM: Source funds to aid ECQ-affected Metro

Manila. INQUIRER.Net. newsinfo.inquirer.net/1466780/duterte-to-dbm-source-funds-to-aid-ecq-affected-metro-manila

CNN Philippines. (2021, July 29). Metro Manila to remain under GCQ with heightened restrictions until August 15. Retrieved from cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/7/29/Metro-Manila-remain-under-GCQ-until-August-15.html

CNN Philippines [cnnphilippines]. (2021, July 29). THREAD: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque holds a media briefing | LIVE https://bit.ly/3xd5I54 [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved from twitter.com/cnnphilippines/status/1420597440491626497?s=20

GMA News, & Panti, L. T. (2021, July 30). COVID-19 vaccination to proceed in NCR under ECQ. GMA News Online. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/797463/covid-19-vaccination-to-proceed-in-ncr-under-ecq/story/ 

Magsambol, B. (2021b, July 29). Philippines detects 97 more Delta variant cases. Rappler. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-detects-local-cases-covid-19-delta-variant-july-29-2021 

Ranada, P. (2021, July 20). Metro Manila placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20. Rappler. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/metro-manila-placed-under-ecq-august-6-to-20-2021

Punzalan, J. (2021, July 30). NCR under ECQ from Aug. 6–20 to curb COVID-19 Delta variant spread: Palace. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/30/21/metro-manila-ecq-from-august-2021 

Rappler [rapplerdotcom]. (2021, July 29). JUST IN. President Duterte approves assistance for low-income individuals and households in areas under ECQ (Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Cagayan [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved from twitter.com/rapplerdotcom/status/1420596929281413122?s=20