The Philippines on Friday lifted restrictions on national obsessions like karaoke and basketball in the capital Manila and reopened universities in the megacity of 13 million people as virus cases eased there.
All restrictions on the movement of young people aged below 18 years were lifted in the capital, and primary schools could reopen soon, pending the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte. Curfews as well as curbs on indoor recreation and contact sports are components of severe lockdowns aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19 which has infected about 2.8 million people and killed 44,000 across the nation.
Cases have fallen from a high of 2,000 average daily cases in Manila last month to an average of just 493 cases per day. The new guidelines are in place until November 21, but officials said they could be extended if the number of new cases and hospital admission rates continue to fall.
