PASIG CITY, (PIA) -- The Metro Manila Council (MMC) shall reimpose longer curfew hours starting today, July 25 after the National Capital Region was placed back under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions.
According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the curfew hours will begin 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
Under MMDA Resolution No. 21-13, the 17 Metro Manila mayors have agreed to adjust the curfew hours from the previous 12 midnight to 4 a.m. because of the increase in the number of COVID 19 cases in Metro Manila and to control further transmission of the Delta variant.
MMDA Chair Benhur Abalos said that the COVID-19 Delta variant is highly contagious with an R Naught (R0), a measure of contagion or reproduction rate, of 5 to 8 that may potentially trigger an exponential surge and local transmission in densely populated areas like the NCR.
"We need to limit the movement of the public through the imposition of longer curfew hours. Since the Delta variant spreads exponentially, we should not let our guards down and implement necessary restrictions to contain the virus,” he added.
“While the Metro Manila Council recognizes the imperative to gradually and cautiously open the economy in order to increase business activities, reduce unemployment and underemployment, and promote economic growth, it is equally mindful of the paramount interests of life and health and the strict implementation of the prevent, detect, isolate, treat, and reintegrate strategies,” the resolution stated.
The Department of Health (DOH) declared an increase of COVID-19 infections in NCR in terms of growth rate, average daily attack rate, health care utilization rate, and intensive care utilization rate. Likewise, the DOH reported that the seven-day moving average in the NCR shows signs of increasing trend as cases in the recent week have exceeded the previous week by 179 cases.
NCR’s average daily reported cases for the week of July 16 to 22 is 797.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced the approval of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on the recommendation of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Infectious Diseases to place again NCR under GCQ with heightened restrictions. (MMDA/PIA-NCR)
