By Fernan Angeles
METRO Manila, the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus disease that has caused the death of over 5,000 Filipinos, will remain under general community quarantine for the entire month of October.
In a televised meeting with the President, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III himself made the announcement on the areas that would be retained under GCQ — Batangas, Tacloban City, Bacolod City, Iligan City and Iloilo City.
Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City, will remain under a strict modified enhanced community quarantine.
The rest of the Philippines, meanwhile, will be under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the most lenient measure.
The country has so far recorded 307,288 COVID-19 cases with 5,284 deaths and 252,665 recoveries.