MANILA (CNA) – The Philippines will lift a stay-at-home order in the capital Manila this week as it trials “granular lockdowns”, an official said yesterday, in a bid to rein in COVID-19 cases and revive the economy.

The country also reported 22,415 COVID-19 cases – a new record high in daily infections.

In a bulletin, the Health Ministry said total confirmed cases reached more than 2.1 million, while 103 more deaths were reported, taking total fatalities to 34,337.

Over 13 million people in the national capital region – the country’s economic heartland – have been in lockdown since Auguest 6 amid record infections fuelled by the hyper-contagious Delta variant.

The move to ease restrictions from tomorrow comes after nationwide daily cases exceeded 20,000 for the past three days – double the number at the start of the latest lockdown – straining hospitals as they grapple with a nurses shortage.

“Localised lockdowns will be piloted in Metro Manila,” said presidential spokesman Harry Roque, explaining that a household, building or street could be targetted.

“It will be literally a complete lockdown if you are subject to granular lockdown – even the food will be delivered to you.”

There were no further details about how the more targetted measures would be enforced.

The lighter restrictions in the national capital region, which accounts for about a third of the country’s economy, will enable many hard-hit businesses to re-open and spur local tourism.

Based on previous guidelines, restaurants will be allowed to accept diners and beauty salons permitted to operate – albeit at reduced capacity.

Limited numbers of people will be allowed to attend in-person religious services.

President Rodrigo Duterte said recently the country could not afford more lockdowns, after previous measures shattered the economy and left millions out of work.

But with only about 19 per cent of the targetted population fully vaccinated and hospitals filling up fast, authorities have had few options to slow the spread of the virus.