President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to place Metro Manila and Laguna province under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) starting Saturday, August 21, 20221 until August 31, 2021.
In a statement on Thursday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Bataan will also be under MECQ starting Monday, August 23, 2021, until the end of the month.
Ayon kay Presidential Spokesperson Sec. @attyharryroque, mananatiling bawal ang indoor and al fresco dine-in at personal care services tulad ng beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops at nail spas | #DZRHNationwide pic.twitter.com/N1AOKfA5zw
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) August 19, 2021
"These latest classifications are without prejudice to the strict implementation of granular lockdowns," Roque said in a statement.
Both Metro Manila and Laguna had been placed under enhanced community quarantine until Friday, August 20, 2021, following a surge in its COVID-19 cases and in order to combat the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Bataan, meanwhile, was also placed under the strictest lockdown until August 22, 2021.
Under MECQ, Roque said personal care services including beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas are still prohibited in the said areas.
Indoor and al-fresco dine-in services are also not allowed, he added.
Religious gatherings shall strictly remain virtual, as per Roque.
More businesses were also allowed to operate at limited capacity, while individual outdoor exercises while wearing face masks were allowed within the barangay.
Thursday, the Philippines logged the second-highest single-day case count at 14,895, bringing the nationwide tally to 1,791,003, with 30,881 deaths and 1,648,402 recoveries.
