The lockdown in Manila will be lifted this week and replaced with localized measures, authorities said on Monday trying to bring a coronavirus epidemic under control.
Read alsoPhilippines: new confinement decreed in Manila in the face of the push of the Delta variant
For the past month, more than 13 million residents of the capital Manila region have been confined in an attempt to contain a record number of cases linked to the Delta variant.
More than 20,000 daily cases
The decision to lift the restrictions from Wednesday comes as the archipelago has recorded more than 20,000 daily cases over the past three days, double the number of contaminations recorded at the start of containment.
Faced with the influx of patients and a shortage of nurses, hospitals are overwhelmed.
Read also Covid-19: record of contamination in the Philippines, which eases its restrictions
"
Localized confinements will be decided in Matro Manila
" the capital region, said presidential spokesman Harry Roque, explaining that a house, a building or a street could be concerned.
In this case, residents will be prohibited from leaving their homes and "
food will be delivered to them,
" he said.
No information was given on how these measures will be implemented.
An easing of the confinement of the capital, a real economic lung of the country, should allow companies in particular to reopen their doors.
Restaurants as well as beauty salons will once again be able to welcome customers, but with reduced capacity.
A limited number of faithful will be allowed to attend religious services.
The country's economy is in bad shape
President Rodrigo Duterte recently said the country cannot afford further lockdowns.
Since the start of the pandemic, lockdowns and restrictive measures have left the Philippine economy bloodless, millions of people unemployed, and many families now living in dire straits.
With only around 19% of the population fully vaccinated and hospitals quickly overwhelmed, authorities have had no choice but to order lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus.
The Philippines crossed the threshold of 2 million cases last week and recorded 33,533 deaths linked to Covid-19.