36 areas, mostly in VisMin, targeted due to COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 cases recorded nationwide in the past 7 days have increased slightly, according to the government.

From 6,558 average daily cases nationwide from May 31 to June 6, it hit 6,609 from June 7 to 13.

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According to the Department of Health (DOH), they are looking at 36 areas because they are considered “moderate or high risk.”

“These 36 priority areas were flagged because una ang kanilang risk classification or 2-week growth rate ay pula na or high risk na po. Sinasabayan pa ng provincial health care or ICU utilization na high risk or critical [level na]… Sa ngayon, 20 of these 36 priority areas are coming from Visayas and Mindanao regions,” said Dr. Alethea de Guzman, director of DOH epidemiology bureau.

There are also some areas where the ICU utilization rate is already at 100 percent, including Cagayan, Zambales, Antique, Zamboanga del Norte, South Cotabato, Quezon, Cotabato City, and San Juan City.

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As a result, some areas in Visayas and Mindanao have been placed under stricter quarantine restrictions due to the continuous increase in COVID-19 cases.

In Cagayan de Oro City, the modified enhanced community quarantine was extended for 15 days to restrict the movement and travel of people.

36 areas, mostly in VisMin, targeted due to COVID-19 cases

In the Visayas, Ormoc City was elevated to GCQ from MGCQ due to the continuous COVID-19 cases.

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Restrictions are already being felt in Iloilo. Some motorists did not enter Pavia, Iloilo from the city to shop for personal needs. Some also lost their livelihoods after their workplaces were temporarily closed due to restrictions.

The DOH says there is no region in the Philippines that does not need to be guarded, so one must remain vigilant against COVID-19.

Metro Manila and some neighboring provinces, , will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) “with restrictions” until the end of June, President Rodrigo Duterte announced.

Duterte said  and Bulacan would be placed in the GCQ “with some restrictions,” while Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite will be in the GCQ “with heightened restrictions.”

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