ECQ extended in NCR Plus areas for 1 week

Amid the continued surge in COVID-19 cases, the government announced on Saturday evening that the enhanced community quarantine imposed (ECQ) on the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus area would be extended for one week starting April 5, 2021.

"Karagdagang linggo, minimum of one additional week beginning on the 5th... one more week at least," said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Saturday.

“Nanawagan din po tayo sa mga lokal na pamahalan sa lugar na ito na paigtingin ang kanilang reinforcement doon sa ginagawa nating quarantine measures,” he said.

The development came following separate recommendations from the Department of Health and the OCTA Research for a one-week extension of the stricter quarantine.

Last week, the government reimposed ECQ over NCR Plus from March 29 to April 4 following the spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases.

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After April 11, Roque said there is a possibility that the restrictions in the NCR Plus areas could be downgraded to a modified ECQ.

"Pero titignan po muna natin ang resulta ng karagdagang ECQ [However, we will first assess the results of the ECQ extension]," he said.

Meanwhile, Roque announced that 110 additional beds for moderate to severe COVID-19 cases will be opened at the Quezon Institute over the weekend while no less than 160 moderate and severe beds will be opened next month.

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On Friday, the Philippines reported an all-time high of 15,310 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

At present, the Philippines has reported a total of 784,043 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 604,905 recoveries and 13,423 fatalities. --DVM/MDM, GMA News