President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under the strictest lockdown classification starting August 6.

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Metro Manila will be placed under General Community Quarantine subject to heightened restrictions from July 30 to August 5 then will shift to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until August 20.

"The heightened restrictions for NCR are more stringent compared to the GCQ with heightened restrictions of other areas," Roque said.

These heightened restrictions came amid the threat of the more contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, the local transmission of which has already been confirmed by health authorities.

Roque said that indoor dine-in services and al fresco dining are prohibited in NCR and only take-out and delivery are allowed.

For people working in these establishments, operations are allowed to continue and finish within the day, the Palace official said.

On the other hand, personal care services, such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas may operate up to 30% of the venue or seating capacity. 

Only Authorized Persons Outside their Residences shall be allowed to travel into and out of the NCR Plus Area, which includes Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal. 

Also, only virtual religious gatherings will be allowed while gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 will be allowed, provided they are limited to immediate family members.     

Other provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of the Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, not affected by the above restrictions shall continue to take effect, including those on the operation of public transportation, Roque said.