MANILA — Some 27 million people in the Philippines or about a quarter of the population went back under the second strictest lockdown level on Tuesday after exhausted health workers warned the country was losing the battle against the coronavirus.
Since the beginning of June, when much of the country emerged from one of the world's longest stay-at-home orders, confirmed infections in the archipelago have increased fivefold, surging past 100,000.
The new restrictions announced by President Rodrigo Duterte late Sunday apply to Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon until Aug. 18.
For the next 2 weeks, public transport will be halted and domestic flights grounded to try and slow the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 2,000 people in the country.
People have been ordered to stay home unless they need to buy essential goods or exercise outdoors.
Only a limited number of businesses will be allowed to operate and restaurants will be permitted to do take-aways only.