Manila and nearby provinces will return to stricter quarantine measures from Monday, Reuters quoted a senior official as saying on Saturday, as the Philippines battles to contain a surge in Covid-19 cases that has strained hospitals.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the measures, which will be in place until April 4, will ban non-essential movement, mass gatherings, dining in restaurants. They represent a further tightening of curbs imposed on March 22.

Roque said the government will intensify tracing and conduct house-to-house visits to search for people with Covid-19 symptoms. There will also be a “heightened presence” of police and military personnel to enforce protocols, he added.

The health ministry on Saturday reported 9,595 new coronavirus cases, marking the second straight day the daily jump in infections remained above 9,000.