President Rodrigo Duterte announced Sunday night that Metro Manila and other high-risk areas would revert to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) starting Monday, August 3. As a result, DOTr again prohibited public transportation to limit the movement of people.
The decision was made after medical health workers in the front lines pleaded to the President to give them at least a two-week break to “breathe” and recover from exhaustion due to surge of COVID-19 cases.
“Ang gusto natin ay magkaroon muna tayo ng breather kasi kung mapapnsin ninyo, magmula nang nag-relax tayo ng community quarantine from ECQ to modified, doon nag-umpisa na umakyat ang dami ng nagkakaroon ng COVID-19,” Philippine College of Physicians Vice President Dr. Maricar Limpin said in an interview on Dobol B sa Dobol B.
Aside from physical exhaustion, Limpin said many hospital workers are also experiencing depression.
Provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, and Laguna would also go back under MECQ starting midnight of August 4.
Also read: 150k COVID-19 cases by end of August – UP projection
The following modes of public transportation will not be allowed under MECQ:
- trains (PNR, LRT1, LRT2, MRT3)
- bus
- jeepney
- taxi
- TNVS
- tricycle with exceptions subject to guidelines of Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units
The only public transportation allowed by the Department of Transportation will be public shuttles for front liners and workers in industries permitted to work under MECQ.
The following modes of transportation will be allowed under MECQ:
- company shuttle (rented shuttles will need a special permit from Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board), at 50% capacity
- personal vehicle (for person/workers in permitted sectors/activities), two persons per row
- bicycle: 1 person
- motorcycle: 1 person
- e-scooter: 1 person max subject to existing traffic regulations
DOTr reminded the public that only authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) with proper ID would be allowed to go out and travel within city limits.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 5,032 new cases yesterday, bringing the total number of cases in the Philippines to 103, 185. Of that number, 35, 569 were active cases, 65,557 already recovered, and 2,059 died.
The MECQ in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, and Laguna would end on August 18, 2020.