Philippines capital comes back to life although COVID-19 threat lingers

Millions of people returned to work in the Philippine capital on Monday as one of the world's strictest and longest coronavirus lockdowns was eased to help resuscitate an economy that has been battered by the closure. | Men wearing a protective mask rides at the back of a jeepney.

Public transport such as trains and shuttle buses were allowed to operate in Manila but on a limited scale, forcing commuters to wait in long queues for hours, and leaving hundreds of workers stranded. | Passengers ride a bus with signs arranged for social distancing in Manila.

With the third highest number of coronavirus cases and second highest official death toll in Southeast Asia, the Philippines also allowed the reopening of more businesses, and people can now leave home without government permits. | A woman wearing a protective mask looks as traffic builds up during the first day of a more relaxed lockdown in Manila.

Manila's measures were among the world's toughest, on par with those of the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak first emerged, and stricter than curbs at the peak of the contagion in Italy and in Spain, bringing the economy to a sudden halt. | Traffic builds up during the first day of a more relaxed lockdown in Manila.

In easing the measures, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sought to walk the fine line between protecting the country's over 107 million people from COVID-19 while reviving the economy facing its biggest contraction in more than three decades.

The decision to ease measures came after the country saw a spike in the number of coronavirus cases it reports daily, which health officials attribute to increased testing and clearing of a backlog of tests. | A woman wearing a protective mask looks out from a bus during the first day of a more relaxed lockdown in Manila.

The Philippines has recorded a total 18,086 infections recorded, of which 957 led to deaths. | A security guard wears a protective shield as train stations open to the public.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the country's positivity rate, or proportion of tests that come back positive, had been more than halved to 6.5% as of late May from 13.4% in April, suggesting the country was on its way to managing the pandemic. | People board a train with seats arranged for social distancing measures.

Dr. Jose Santiago, President of the Philippine Medical Association, said the key to a successful transition to the so-called new normal is implementation. "As you know, the implementation (of relaxed rules) is very challenging. I don't know if they can really implement the social distancing and compulsory wearing of masks". | Commuters undergo a temperature and security check at a train station during the first day of a more relaxed coronavirus lockdown in Manila, Philippines

People have their temperatures checked before boarding a bus during the first day of a more relaxed lockdown that was placed to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Manila, Philippines.

People wait for a ride during the first day of a more relaxed coronavirus lockdown in Manila, Philippines.