The extension of Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte until April 30, as the interagency task force on COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The Spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said, “Yung enhanced community quarantine is until April 30, 11:59 p.m. Ito po ang rekomendasyon na tinanggap ni Pangulong Duterte.”

He said on a virtual briefing, “Pagkatapos ng kanyang announcement, vinerify po namin ulit. The enhanced community quarantine is hereby extended until 11:59 pm, April 30.”

Watch Karlo Nograles virtual briefing here:

“Provided, that all exemptions granted by the Office of the President or the IATF shall continue to be in effect for the duration of the extended ECQ. Provided further that such extension of the ECQ shall be without prejudice to the discretion of the President to relax the implementation of the ECQ in some local jurisdictions or the granting of exemptions in favor of certain sectors, as public health considerations and food security may warrant.”

He said that the guidelines that govern the implementation of the quarantine would remain in effect unless changed by the President.

Based on the President’s public address on Monday night, he said the government is “inclined” to extend a strict quarantine measure.

Somehow, the Luzon-wide lockdown which has placed 110 million people under quarantine, was set to be lifted by midnight of April 13.

Currently, the Philippines has recorded 3,660 cases of COVID-19 and 163 fatalities.

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