Manila (AFP)

The Philippines announced on Saturday a new lockdown next week for more than 24 million people in and around Manila, as hospitals in the capital struggle to absorb a surge in Covid-19 infections.

These reinforced restrictions are imposed on the economic heart of the country, which concentrates a fifth of the population, while more contagious variants fuel an upsurge in cases.

The measure, scheduled to last a week, was announced by presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

It applies to the Manila region and four neighboring provinces, which already find themselves isolated in a "travel bubble" in an attempt to prevent the rise in cases from spreading to the rest of the country.

"The virus is the enemy, not the government," Roque insisted.

"As we stay at home we expect infection rates to slow down. The government is ready to provide assistance," he added.

From Monday, the affected population will have to work from home, with the exception of essential workers, and public transport will be suspended.

All important gatherings will be banned, a 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew will be put in place and non-essential businesses will be closed.

People will be allowed to go outside for exercise, but a stay-at-home order for all children and the elderly remains in place.

While previous lockdowns hit the Philippines economy hard, Mr Roque estimated that fewer days worked next week due to the Easter holidays on Thursday and Friday would limit the disruption.

New infections in the country reached 9,595 on Saturday - the second highest figure in a single day since the start of the pandemic - bringing the total number of cases to more than 712,000 in the country of about 110 million people including twelve million in the capital, where many live in poor and overcrowded neighborhoods.

- "Like a war" -

Independent research group OCTA, which warned that daily new infections could exceed 11,000 by the end of March, said on Saturday that tighter restrictions were needed for at least two weeks to "prevent our hospitals and our health workers are overwhelmed. "

A growing number of hospitals in the capital are reporting that the beds dedicated to Covid patients are full.

"It's like a war there," a doctor who works as a consultant in several public establishments told AFP.

"People are dying at home because no one accepts them (in the hospital) - even those who have money and are willing to pay," he said, on condition of anonymity.

Despite the quarantine of the inhabitants of several areas, the strict night curfews, the order to keep the children in their homes and the ban on foreigners from entering Philippine territory in recent weeks, the authorities have failed. failed to stop the spread of the virus.

The Philippine government hopes to vaccinate 70 million people this year but faces public mistrust.

A poll released Friday by Pulse Asia indicates that 61% of Filipinos do not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 - most for safety reasons.

© 2021 AFP