Over 24m Filipinos ordered to stay indoors as virus cases rise

Govt tells residents to stay at home unless they are essential workers as Metro Manila and four neighbouring provinces enter lockdown to stop spread of virus that has strained hospitals

- Manolo B. Jara

More than 24 million people in the Philippines’ economic hub entered a lockdown on Monday, as officials warned the week-long restrictions could be extended if coronavirus infections do not fall.

People have been ordered to stay home unless they are essential workers as Metro Manila — the national capital region — and four neighbouring provinces struggle to curb a surge that has strained hospitals.

Only hours into the latest lockdown imposed on the region — which accounts for around half of the country’s economic activity — the health department’s epidemiology chief Alethea de Guzman warned it could be prolonged to bring about a “sustained” drop. “All options are open,” said Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who chairs the government’s COVID-19 task force.

More contagious variants of the virus have been blamed for the record spike that has taken the country’s caseload to more than 720,000.

Traffic was backed up for hundreds of meters at checkpoints on major avenues in the capital Manila early on Monday as police tried to ensure only essential workers were traveling.

But reporters saw officers periodically open up the roads to ease congestion.