Philippines tightens lockdown due to surge of virus infections

Manila: Millions of residents of Metro Manila and four nearby provinces were ordered to stay at home starting Tuesday as a stricter lockdown rule was reintroduced in these areas due to a surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte decided that Metro Manila and the outlying provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan, where many of the fresh COVID-19 cases were recorded, will be under stricter “modified enhanced community quarantine” effective August 4 up to August 18 to try to arrest the galloping spike of the COVID-19.