Duterte heeds frontliners plea, reimposes MECQ in Metro Manila, other areas Aug. 4 -18

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has granted the appeal of the medical community to reimpose strict lockdown measures in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces as the country continues to see a surge of COVID-19 cases.

Duterte approved the return of the Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from Aug. 4 to 18 during a meeting with his Cabinet on Sunday night, his spokesman Harry Roque told reporters in a text message.

On Friday, Duterte announced that Metro Manila would remain under the more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ) for two more weeks.