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General quarantine replaces lockdown in parts of Philippines as easing starts

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/04/30/20200428-covid-health-workers-fsj-2-97.jpg"/><figcaption>Workers go home at the end of the day on April 28, 2020 during the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- The Philippines on Friday started easing pandemic restrictions, with some areas placed under a looser general community quarantine to stop COVID-19 infections that killed some 500 locally and 227,000 globally.Only Metro Manila and high-risk areas will remain under the enhanced community quarantine or ECQ until May 15. Under a GCQ, there will be a measured resumption of work, public transportation and businesses, including shopping malls.&quot;Dapat necessary lang po ang inyong mga paglabas sa bahay o di kaya ay work-related. Wala pa rin po tayong pasyal-pasyal,&quot; Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told DZMM.(All trips out of the house should be necessary or work-related. Strolling around is still banned.)The government might keep or re-implement the ECQ if cases of the respiratory disease spike in an area, he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/list-businesses-allowed-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas">LIST: Businesses allowed in enhanced, general quarantine areas</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/list-services-activities-barred-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas">LIST: Services, activities barred in enhanced, general quarantine areas</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/30/20/who-can-travel-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas">Who can travel in enhanced, general quarantine areas?</a></li></ul>Nearly 2 months into the lockdown or ECQ that until Friday covered the entire Luzon island, the Philippines tallied 8,488 confirmed COVID-19 infections, including 568 deaths and 1,043 recoveries.The Department of Health had hoped to bring the total daily tests to 8,000 this week as more cities in the capital region started mass testing drives.In Manila, so-called hard lockdowns were implemented for 48 hours in at least 2 densely populated districts.January to March gross domestic product data will be released on May 7, with analysts and government officials forecasting a contraction in the second and third quarters.On Tuesday, the Philippines added to its COVID-19 war chest selling $2.35 billion (P119 billion) in global bonds at the lowest interest on record for its 10-year and 25-year tenors.Economic losses have run up to P700 billion and could swell to P1.1 trillion, acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said Thursday.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/diamond-philippines-defies-pandemic-fear-with-235-billion-bond-sale">&#x27;Diamond&#x27; 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However, those in GCQ areas cannot just go to places still in lockdown, officials said. Workers who need to cross from area to area have to present proof of employment or company ID to travel.The government&#x27;s pandemic task force released the following guidelines for areas under ECQ and GCQ:• Travel to and from areas under enhanced community quarantine is prohibited except for:- health workers- government officials and frontline personnel- those traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons- persons transiting to the airport for travel abroad- workers in permitted establishments- persons providing essential goods, services, and public utilities- essential skeletal workforce- repatriated OFWs and non-OFWs returning to their residences- other persons transported through the efforts of the national government upon conduct of necessary quarantine protocols and in concurrence with the receiving LGUs• Workers in the logistics sector, such as cargo, trucking, and port operations shall likewise be allowed to transit across areas placed under ECQ or GCQ provided that only a maximum of 5 personnel may operate cargo and delivery vehicles by land, with or without load.• Land, air or sea travel by uniformed personnel and government officials and employees for official business, with the corresponding travel authority, shall be allowed• OFWs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and stranded foreigners may leave for abroad through any of the airports or seaports. Departing passengers may be accompanied by only 1 person traveling to any international port, who shall be allowed to return to his/her point of origin.• Repatriated OFWs or returning Filipinos who have been issued with a certificate of completion of the 14-day facility-based quarantine or those who may be required to undergo quarantine shall be granted unhampered transit across zones en route to their final destination in the Philippines.

The Philippines on Friday started easing pandemic restrictions, with some areas placed under a looser general community quarantine.

The Philippines on Friday started easing pandemic restrictions, with some areas placed under a looser general community quarantine.