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COVID-19 Watch FACT CHECK

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: ‘ECQ’ extension to June 15 NOT TRUE

Netizens have again altered an old graphic from North Luzon-based broadcaster Nueva Ecija TV48, this time claiming the “enhanced community quarantine” (ECQ) in several regions and cities in the country has been extended until June 15.

This is not true. The false post is an edited infographic originally uploaded April 24 by Nueva Ecija TV48 on its official Facebook (FB) page.

On the contrary, quarantine restrictions will be relaxed in several regions, including Metro Manila, starting June 1 as part of the transition to the so-called new normal, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Tuesday night.

Other areas that will be placed under a less stringent general community quarantine (GCQ) are regions 2, 3, 4a, Pangasinan, Albay and Davao City.

Under a GCQ, more business establishments are allowed to reopen while airports and selected mass transport systems can gradually resume operations.

“In other areas, it will be again a piecemeal basis, depending on the viability of the place to meet the challenges of COVID,” Duterte said in a televised address.

Luzon was first placed under lockdown in mid-March to contain the coronavirus.

This is not the first time the announcement by the northern Luzon media company was misleadingly altered. (See VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Graphic on ‘extended’ ECQ until May 25 FAKE)

Three of the untrue posts that carried the altered announcement flagged by VERA Files collectively have over a thousand shares on FB.

(Editor’s Note: This post was updated on May 30 to correct a date in the second paragraph, which earlier stated that Nueva Ecija TV48 published their post on May 24.)

(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)