Longer curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. will be imposed in the National Capital Region starting today (July 25, 2021) as the local transmission of the deadlier Delta variant prompted the government to revert Metro Manila’s status to the stricted General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions.
The Metro Manila Council’s decision came as the Department of Health and the UP-Philippine Genome Center identified 17 new cases of the Delta strain, bringing the total to 64.
“We need to limit the movement of the public through the imposition of longer curfew hours. Since the Delta variant spreads exponentially, we should not let our guards down and implement necessary restrictions to contain the virus,” MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said.
‘Unusually high number of deaths’
On Saturday, the country logged 6,216 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 1,543,281.
The death toll climbed to 27,131 after 241 more patients died from the disease. The day before, the Department of Health reported zero deaths but only because of a technical glitch.
“The unusually high number of deaths reported today can be attributed to a backlog of cases being updated after the resolution of the system error,” the Health department said.
Of the 17 new Delta variant cases recorded, 12 are local cases, one involved a returning overseas Filipino worker, while four are still being verified.
Of the 12 local cases, nine had addresses in Metro Manila while three were from Calabarzon.
Cops to ensure kids stay indoors
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered cops to ensure children are not out on the streets after the national government decided to bar kids anew from venturing outdoors.
“I ask for your understanding because the PNP will do everything we can to ensure we are all safe from this deadlier variant,” Eleazar said.
“I appeal to all parents to exercise constant vigilance in ensuring their kids remain indoors. This Delta variant is more transmissible, and children may serve as super spreaders if they are exposed to this strain.
