Manila quarantine easing to April 30 but casinos remain closed
Casinos including resorts in Entertainment City will remain closed. Such venues had been shut since late March.
Metro Manila is the second most populous and the most densely populated region of the Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte decreed on Sunday that the Covid-19 countermeasures in Metro Manila would be eased to modified enhanced community quarantine from April 12 to April 30.
But casinos – including the large-scale private-sector resorts in Entertainment City – will remain closed, a step that had coincided with the more restrictive enhanced community quarantine.
Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal are also covered by the newly-eased quarantine conditions.
But even with the amendment of conditions, casinos, horse racing events, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments – except for the draws conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office – are to remain shut down.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Mr Duterte made the decision to ease the quarantine terms due to a greater number of public and private-sector hospitals making a commitment to provide rooms and beds dedicated to Covid-19 patients.
But Mr Roque added that the country’s leader said a common nighttime curfew from 8pm to 5am the following day would remain in place until mayors and governors had agreed on modified hours.
Editing by Rachel Hu
