Manila goes into stricter quarantine

Metro Manila’s largest casinos have been closed since March and have no hope of reopening before at least mid-August.

Philippines.- President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Metro Manila under a stricter level of quarantine until August 18.

Last week Duterte had announced that the general community quarantine (GCQ) level of alert for Metro Manila would be renewed on August 1 and that the government was planning a new scheme with localised lockdowns to control Covid-19 outbreaks.

But after the country surpassed the 100,000 mark of positive Covid-19 cases, the government decided to tighten measures further.

Now Metro Manila will go back to the previous stage of “modified enhanced community quarantine” (MECQ), which means stay-at-home orders, with quarantine passes required to circulate. Public transport will be halted, shops and restaurants will go back to take away and delivery options only, and consumption of alcohol in public places is prohibited.

The largest casinos, including Resorts World Manila, Solaire, City of Dreams and Okada were already to remain closed. they have been closed since mid-March,