Philippines closes off capital to fight coronavirus

You're referring to the recent developments in the Philippines!

Yes, on March 16, 2020, the Philippine government announced that it would be placing the entire National Capital Region (NCR) under a "community quarantine" to help contain the spread of COVID-19. This means that all public transportation, including buses, trains, and jeepneys, were suspended, and people were advised to stay at home.

The community quarantine was implemented to reduce the movement of people and slow down the spread of the virus. The government also set up checkpoints to monitor the movement of people and ensure that only essential personnel, such as healthcare workers, emergency responders, and those working in critical infrastructure, were allowed to move around.

The quarantine was initially set to last for one week, but it was later extended until April 12, 2020, to give the government more time to implement its response to the pandemic.

The community quarantine had a significant impact on the daily lives of people in the NCR, including the capital city of Manila. Many businesses were forced to close, and people were advised to work from home or take leave. The quarantine also affected the country's economy, with many industries, such as tourism and retail, experiencing significant losses.

However, the government's efforts to contain the spread of the virus seemed to be paying off, as the number of new cases in the NCR began to decline. The quarantine was eventually lifted on April 12, 2020, and the government began to ease restrictions, allowing people to return to work and resume their daily activities.

Overall, the community quarantine was a significant measure taken by the Philippine government to combat the spread of COVID-19, and it played a crucial role in helping to slow down the spread of the virus in the country.