The Philippines government has decided to keep the current quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila in place and expanded the curbs to neighboring Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite provinces for 14 days in a bid to suppress a surge in coronavirus infections. The Philippines will expand Covid-19 restrictions to four provinces near the capital Manila as confirmed cases were increasing in the country, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

As per Xinhua news, the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, along with the national capital region will be placed under stricter restrictions to curb the surge. The new restrictions will be effective from Monday till April 4, Roque said in a televised press conference on Sunday.

The strict rules came after the Southeast Asian country registered over 7,000 daily infections in the past three days.

The Department of Health (DOH) Sunday reported 7,757 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 663,794. On Saturday, the country logged 7,999 new cases, the highest ever daily tally since the outbreak began in January 2020. The country's death toll currently stands at 12,930.

"Only essential travel into and out of (these adjacent provinces) will be allowed," Roque said. He said that mass gatherings, including religious congregations, are banned; face-to-face meetings in these areas are "highly discouraged"; a seven-hour curfew starting 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be imposed in all five regions.

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