Philippines imposes strict lockdown on Metro Manila

30/07/2021 18:14

Philippine President Rodrigo Durterte on July 30 approved a lockdown on Metro Manila in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect the country’s health care system.

Philippines imposes strict lockdown on Metro Manila ảnh 1

An elderly receives COVID-19 vaccine shot in Manila (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine President Rodrigo Durterte on July 30 approved a lockdown on Metro Manila in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect the country’s health care system.

In a televised speech, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that Metro Manila, comprising 16 urban areas and home to over 13 million people, will go into strict lockdown from August 6 to 20.

The Philippines has extended its ban on travellers from 10 countries including India, Indonesia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates until August 15.

The country has so far recorded more than 1.57 million COVID-19 cases, including 216 of the Delta variant, and over 27,500 deaths.

Philippine labourers are still allowed to return home from abroad and must stay in quarantine for 14 days.

Meanwhile, Laos logged 244 new COVID-19 infections and one death in the past 24 hours, announced the Ministry of Health on July 30.

The number of COVID-19 patients who are pregnant women and children has been high.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health is stepping up measures to support medical facilities nationwide to face the increasing number of patients, especially in hospitals in the central and southern regions./.

VNA