Philippines prolongs COVID-19 curbs in capital, more areas under strict quarantine

MANILA - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday extended partial coronavirus curbs in the capital and nearby provinces until end-June, but placed more areas under tighter quarantine measures because of rising infections and high hospital occupancy.

COVID-19 cases in the capital region, home to at least 13 million people, have eased from their peak in April, but provinces are battling surges, showing that the pandemic is far from over in the Southeast Asian nation. In a weekly national address, Duterte told the public to get inoculated and comply with health regulations. "If you do not get vaccinated, you will really die."