[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Philippine government is considering extending the lockdown order on Luzon Island, where the capital Metro Manila is located, as new COVID-19 cases exceed 150 and deaths continue to occur.
According to local media on the 5th, the Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19 is reviewing a plan to extend the lockdown measures on Luzon Island, home to more than half of the population, including Metro Manila, for two more weeks.
Although the increase in new cases in the Philippines has somewhat slowed, the spread remains rapid, and deaths are also occurring continuously. On this day, the Philippine Department of Health reported 152 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 3,246. The cumulative death toll reached 152.
New cases have decreased from the daily peak of 538 but the spread is still rapid. Deaths are also continuously occurring.
Salvador Panelo, spokesperson for the Presidential Palace, said, "There is a consensus among government officials and businesspeople that the lockdown needs to be extended for two weeks," adding, "Lifting the lockdown prematurely could nullify the progress made so far."
Currently, the Philippines has issued lockdown orders for northern Luzon Island as well as central and southern local governments. As the COVID-19 situation worsens, under President Duterte's directive, the presidential yacht in Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines will be used as a facility to isolate suspected COVID-19 patients.
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