Philippines Reports Around 300 New COVID-19 Cases... Considering Easing Restrictions in Some Locked-Down Areas

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 11th, the Philippines reported nearly 300 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Amid this, the local government is considering easing lockdown measures in some areas where restrictions are currently in place until the 15th.

According to local media such as the daily Philippine Star, the Philippine Department of Health announced 292 new COVID-19 cases on the day, bringing the total confirmed cases to 11,086. Seven people died on the day, increasing the total death toll to 726.

The daily new confirmed cases had decreased to the 100s for three consecutive days recently but have now approached 300 again.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque explained that President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to decide on the 11th whether to extend or ease the lockdown measures imposed on Metro Manila and other areas until the 15th.

Earlier, Roque stated over the past weekend that "only certain specific areas in the capital region will be eased to general community quarantine, while the lockdown order for the rest of Metro Manila will be maintained."

The Philippine government began lockdown measures nationwide for COVID-19 prevention starting with Metro Manila on March 15, and later eased lockdown orders to general community quarantine for areas outside high-risk zones such as Metro Manila as of the 1st of this month.

However, researchers from the University of the Philippines warned in a recent report that if the lockdown in the capital region (Metro Manila) is prematurely eased, the cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases could more than double to 24,000 by June 15, and deaths could rise to 1,700.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government announced that it is investigating 183 barangay (local smallest administrative unit) officials suspected of misconduct such as falsifying beneficiary lists related to the distribution of emergency disaster relief funds amid the COVID-19 crisis.