Traffic jams back in Philippine capital as restrictions ease

Manila, March 2 (BUS): Traffic jams and outdoor crowds in the Philippine capital and 38 other cities and provinces returned Tuesday after officials allowed businesses and public transportation, including malls, cinemas and restaurants, to operate at full capacity. Officials said COVID-19 cases continued to decline with more vaccinations.

In an effort to boost the epidemic-hit economy, authorities placed Metropolitan Manila and 38 other regions under the lowest levels of the five-step pandemic alert system from Tuesday to March 15 and lifted most health restrictions, but still required full vaccination, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Residents 18 years of age or older against coronavirus and wearing face masks outdoors and in indoor establishments.

Social distancing is no longer required in Manila and other designated areas, restaurants can now remove plastic barriers at tables, and public gatherings — such as birthday parties, weddings, sporting events and family reunions — can fully resume. All government employees have been ordered to return to their posts in order to work.

“Now everything is open,” Trade Minister Ramon Lopez said. “We are happy to see traffic again, it means there is already economic activity and people are getting out.”

The Philippines imposed one of its longest-running police lockdowns and quarantines two years ago when back-to-back COVID-19 outbreaks sparked the worst economic recession of 2020 and pushed unemployment and hunger to record levels.

Lopez said economic growth has since resumed and could return to pre-pandemic levels this year unless external disturbances such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine worsen.

Daily COVID-19 cases have fallen from more than 37,000 during the last peak in January to less than 1,000. Indeed, the 951 cases reported on Monday bring the total number of confirmed infections to more than 3.6 million with 56,451 deaths, the second highest total in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

MI