People wearing face masks are seen inside a provincial bus as they try to move out before the community quarantine of Metro Manila in Quezon City, the Philippines, March 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
The Philippines has extended community quarantine to the entire main Luzon island in a drastic bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
MANILA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the entire main Luzon island in the Philippines under "enhanced community quarantine" in a drastic bid to contain the spread of the COVID-19 in the country, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Monday.
On Sunday, the Philippines had started implementing until April 14 a 30-day lockdown on Metro Manila to force people to stay home.
Soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) alight from a military truck during the Metro Manila "community quarantine" in Valenzuela City, the Philippines on March 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
Panelo said details of the expanded lockdown of the entire Luzon island, where Manila is located, will be announced later Monday.
Panelo said in a press conference earlier that Duterte will also make an announcement on his government's additional measures to contain the deadly virus.
"It's a matter of life and death," Panelo said. He stressed the need to keep people out of the streets and other public places.
The Philippines now has 140 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 12 deaths. COVID-19 transmission continues to surge despite government's efforts to ramp up its response to epidemic.■
