Philippines relaxes anti-Covid-19 measures after controlling latest wave

Bangkok, May 14 (EFE).- Philippine authorities announced they will relax part of the measures implemented to combat the latest Covid-19 outbreak, the hardest to date, in Manila and surrounding provinces following a decrease in cases.

As of Saturday, attendance at religious rites with limited attendance will be allowed and restaurants will be able to serve dinners, among other measures, but the ban on non-essential travel will remain.

The measure, announced Thursday night by President Rodrigo Duterte, will be reviewed in two weeks and comes as the peak of the latest wave of the virus was surpassed weeks ago. The virus has infected more than 1.12 million people in the country and killed 18,714.

Duterte asked for the collaboration of citizens and urged them to maintain the alert since “it is unknown when the pandemic will end” during a televised speech with part of his cabinet.

Authorities will also decide May 31 if they maintain or revoke the travel ban between the capital and adjacent provinces, such as Bucalan or Cavite.

The Philippines will also maintain the suspension of travel to and from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh as a result of the recent outbreak in these countries linked to a new strain of the virus, which was already detected Tuesday in Philippine territory.

The archipelago began its vaccination plan on Mar. 1, which at the moment is advancing at a slow pace. The country has only vaccinated 2.54 million people with a first dose and about 517,000 have received both, in a country with 110 million inhabitants. EFE

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