(Adds details, background)
MANILA, March 27 (Reuters) - Manila and nearby provinces
will return to stricter quarantine measures from Monday, a
senior official said on Saturday, as the Philippines battles to
contain a surge in COVID-19 cases that has strained hospitals.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the measures, which
will be in place until April 4, will ban non-essential movement,
mass gatherings, dining in restaurants. They represent a further
tightening of curbs imposed on March 22. Roque said the government will intensify tracing and conduct
house-to-house visits to search for people with COVID-19
symptoms. There will also be a "heightened presence" of police
and military personnel to enforce protocols, he added.
The health ministry on Saturday reported 9,595 new
coronavirus cases, marking the second straight day the daily
jump in infections remained above 9,000.
The capital region, a congested urban sprawl of 16 cities
that is home to at least 13 million people, has accounted for
more than two-fifths of the country's more than 712,000 COVID-19
cases. There have been more than 13,000 deaths nationwide.
Authorities attribute the spike in infections to the more
transmissible new coronavirus variants like those first
identified in South Africa and Britain. Both have been detected
in the Philippines.
Roque told a media briefing that the threat was drastic and
warranted a "drastic response", adding the tighter measures will
give health workers breathing space as hospitals in the capital
near critical capacity.
Lockdowns have taken a huge toll on the Philippine economy,
which contracted by a record 9.5% last year. Roque said the
government timed the reimposition of tougher curbs during the
week ahead of Easter - so the impact on the economy will be less
severe as many businesses will be closed anyway during Holy Week
celebrations.
Public transport will be allowed to operate on a limited
capacity, and movement of essential goods can continue
unimpeded, he said.
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Philippines daily COVID-19 cases reach new highs https://tmsnrt.rs/2QfvgPp
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