(BusinessWorld) President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday approved the recommendation of his pandemic task force to enforce stricter quarantine rules in Manila, the capital, and nearby cities amid the threat of the more contagious coronavirus variant that is ravaging Southeast Asian countries, according to the presidential palace.

The National Capital Region (NCR) would be placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions from July 23 to 31, Palace spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement.

“The same IATF rules would be observed when NCR was previously under GCQ with heightened restrictions,” Mr. Roque said.

Under GCQ status — the second most lenient of the four quarantine stages — only essential travel into and out of the capital region would be allowed. The seating capacities of several business establishments will also be reduced.

Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in northern Philippines, and Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte in the southern part of the country will also be placed under the stricter version of GCQ, Mr. Roque said.

“As these areas will be placed under GCQ with heightened restrictions, children five years old and above will not be allowed to go to outdoor areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Roque said the Philippines will impose a five-day travel ban on Indonesia and Malaysia starting July 25 to prevent the spread of the Delta variant, Mr. Roque said.