With the continued rise in COVID-19 cases, the entire Luzon– home to over 57 million people–was placed under “enhanced community quarantine” by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16.
The order took effect immediately and will last until April 12, 2020.
Under an enhanced community quarantine, “strict home quarantine shall be implemented in all households; transportation shall be suspended; provision for food and essential services shall be regulated; and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be implemented.”
Work is restricted to work-at-home arrangement under the quarantine, the President said in an evening press conference.
He also said businesses should close down if the situation deteriorates.
To the private sector he issued an appeal: “Mag bayanihan tayo (Let’s all help each other).”
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in an earlier TV interview on March 16 said exempt from the enhanced quarantine are frontline health workers, authorized government officials, those with medical conditions, and the transport of basic necessities.
He noted that supermarkets and groceries will remain open but banking operations will be restricted to automated teller machines.
Panelo said local government units will deliver basic goods to the public.
It is expected that various government agencies will soon issue their own implementing rules on the President’s enhanced community quarantine order.
