The order was made on Thursday as several regional countries are experiencing infection spikes while local travel demand is set to increase during the upcoming four-day public holiday (from April 30 to May 3).

The Government also tasked the Ministry of Health to direct localities to make sure that cross infections will not take place at all civilian quarantine facilities, have plans to expand existing quarantine capacity, and improve protocols on post-quarantine medical surveillance.

Localities, especially Southwestern border provinces must enhance COVID-19 test capacity and timely detect community transmission case.

Localities shall only impose provincial-level social distancing or lockdown after getting approval from the Prime Minister in a bid to minimize negative impacts on economic activities and people’s life.

With 45 new cases confirmed on Thursday, the national patient tally rose to 2,910./.