MANILA – Malacañang advised the NCR residents on Tuesday to adhere the restriction of outdoor exercise during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the country’s capital city.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque urged the citizens living in Metro Manila to stay at home during the ECQ to avoid contracting the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“Kapag sa tingin nila, importante na 10 days lang naman, eh sa bahay na muna tayo, sumunod na po tayo (If they think, it is important to stay home for just 10 days, let’s just follow),” Roque said.
This comes after the mayors of Metro Manila agreed to enact a resolution prohibiting outdoor exercise during ECQ.
From August 6 to 20, Metro Manila was placed under ECQ to prevent the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant of Covid-19.
No one is allowed to exercise outdoors until August 20, according to a resolution signed Monday by 17 Metro Manila mayors and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr.
Outdoor exercises were permitted in Metro Manila from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. prior to the resolution’s issuance.
Following a “steady rise” in Covid-19 infections in Metro Manila, including confirmed cases of Delta coronavirus variant, the current decision was made.
Under the resolution, staying indoor is “one of the best protection against the pandemic during the ECQ”.
Roque stated that President Rodrigo Duterte supports the decision to ban outdoor exercise in Metro Manila.
“Ito po ‘yung pagkakataon na ang Presidente, nagde-defer sa mga lokal na pamahalaan. Sila po kasi ang nagpapatupad ng ating mga quarantine (The President would defer to the local governments because they are the ones implementing the quarantine protocols),” he said.
After a spike in Covid-19 cases with a positive two-week growth rate of 47 percent, the Philippines’ case classification has been upgraded to “high-risk”.
According to the Department of Health, Metro Manila is currently classified as high-risk due to its positive two-week growth rate and high-risk average daily attack rate.
