(BusinessWorld) THE GOVERNMENT would probably ease the lockdown in Manila, the capital and nearby cities and provinces this week on decreasing coronavirus infections, according to the presidential palace.

Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite would likely revert to a general community quarantine, presidential spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing on Monday.

These areas have experienced a drop in coronavirus cases in the past weeks, he said, adding that the healthcare system use rates have eased to below critical levels at less than 50%.

“It’s possible to have a lower classification,” Mr. Roque said of the lockdown level. The lockdown in Metro Manila is unlikely to be eased to the most relaxed level, he added.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte is set to announce this week the new quarantine classifications for the next half of the month.

“An ordinary general community quarantine will result in higher percentage capacity, particularly for indoor dining and facilities,” Mr. Roque said. “It may not be the same general community quarantine as before but certainly, there is a bit of opening.”

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 6,426 coronavirus infections on Monday, bringing the total to 1.32 million.

The death toll rose by 57 to 22,845, while recoveries increased by 7,145 to 1.24 million, it said in a bulletin.

There were 59,096 active cases, 1.3% of which were critical, 91.8% were mild, 3.9% did not show symptoms, 1.8% were severe and 1.28% were moderate.

The agency said 12 duplicates had been removed from the tally, nine of which were tagged as recoveries and 10 recoveries were reclassified as deaths. Ten laboratories failed to submit data on June 12.

The coronavirus has sickened about 176.7 million and killed 3.8 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.