Quarantine passes will no longer be required in Metro Manila starting Saturday with the start of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), according to the Metro Manila Council (MMC).
Apart from Metro Manila, the province of Laguna will also be included in the MECQ tomorrow. At the same time, it will start in the province of Bataan on Monday as COVID-19 infections increase again.
“Ang pagkakaiba ngayon hindi na namin i-implement ang ating quarantine pass,” according to MMC chairperson and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez in an interview with Teleradyo, Friday.
However, everyone is still expected to stay at home under MECQ except for essential trips and activities, such as buying food, medicine, working, and getting vaccinated.
Outdoor exercises will be allowed again in Metro Manila starting Saturday with the expiration of MMDA resolution 21-17 series of 2021. Still, they will be required to wear face masks and adhere to minimum health standards.
While MECQ is being implemented in the National Capital Region, Laguna, and Bataan, indoor and al-fresco (outdoor) dining and personal care services, such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas, will still not be allowed.
Quarantine passes no longer required at Metro Manila MECQ starting Saturday
All religious gatherings during this time period will remain virtual and not face-to-face in the following areas.
Tighter granular lockdowns can still be implemented within such MECQ areas if required.
According to the latest forecast by the Department of Health on Thursday, COVID-19 has hit 1.79 million people nationwide. As many as 30,881 people have died from the virus in the country since the pandemic began.
Yesterday marked the second-highest single-day case (14,895) increase in Philippine history. However, this is not far from the highest single-day increase in the country of 15,310 on April 2nd.
Meanwhile, the country will allocate P45 billion to purchase COVID-19 booster shots in 2022, according to Malacañang.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, this is part of the P270 billion funding proposal for the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response next year.
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