MANILA, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The Philippines said on Sunday it
would reimpose a stricter lockdown in and around its capital for
two weeks from midnight of Aug. 4, as the country struggles to
contain coronavirus infections that have jumped to more than
100,000 cases.
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved placing Metro Manila
and nearby provinces such as Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan
under so-called "Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine" until
Aug. 18, his spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.
The move followed a call on Saturday by 80 local groups
representing 80,000 doctors and a million nurses for tighter
controls saying the Philippines was losing the fight against the
coronavirus and warning of a collapse in the healthcare system
from soaring infections.