Wider Lockdown Possible In The Philippines As COVID-19 Cases Spike

Wider Lockdown Possible In The Philippines As COVID-19 Cases Spike

WIDER LOCKDOWN IN THE PHILIPPINES – A wider lockdown in the Philippines is possible as coronavirus infections drastically increase.

WIDER LOCKDOWN IN THE PHILIPPINES
Local officials wearing face masks and face shields as protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) stand near a community quarantine checkpoint in a village under local lockdown, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 25, 2021. (Reuters/Lisa Marie David/File Photo) | Image from: PhilStar

Authorities has announced strict curbs on international arrivals to  curb the recently rising spread of COVID-19, according to Philippine Star’s Interaksyon.

The government is currently facing criticism over its dealing with the pandemic following a jump in COVID-19 cases, a year after it imposed one of the world’s strictest and longest lockdowns.

Officials have attributed the spike to a relaxing of some mobility restrictions to allow people to return to work and revive the economy after a 9.5% contraction in 2020, which is currently Southeast Asia’s deepest economic slump.

“If nothing changes and cases continue to rise, then the possibility of a more widespread lockdown is strong,”

This came from a statement by Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who hoped that the issue could be averted in the coming days.

Albeit the easing of curbs, several restrictions have been in place for a year, among them include inter-regional movement and the closure of schools.

There are about 631,320 infections in the Philippines, among them were 12,848 deaths overall.

For over a month starting this March, foreigners and some returning citizens will be barred from entering the country, according to its task force.

Exempted from the restriction are accredited officials of foreign governments, returning Filipino workers and emergency cases.

The NCR, which is home to about 13 million people, has imposed a two-week curfew and ordered anyone below 18 to stay indoors, based on the report.

Several experts say that all sectors are to be blamed for the spike.

“We have to be humble enough to admit we all have failed in so many aspects in terms of our preventive measures at both personal and institutional levels,”

What do you think of this report? How will you react to this? Let us know more about it in the comments below.

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