President Rodrigo Duterte has prolonged restrictions on movement and businesses in the Philippine capital and nearby provinces until mid-July and retained stricter Covid-19 curbs in central and southern areas, Reuters quotes an official as saying.

Entertainment venues, amusement parks, and contacts sports are prohibited in the capital region and nearby provinces, while restaurants, gyms and indoor tourist attractions are allowed to operate at up to 40 per cent capacity. But 21 cities and provinces outside the capital remain under tighter measures to contain the virus.

A ban was extended on inbound travel from Oman, the United Arab Emirates and most countries in South Asia, to ward off highly contagious Covid-19 variants.

Local officials have two days to appeal to the president over the restrictions, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.