The Philippines announced on Friday the extension until May 15 of its lockdown of the capital Manila and nearby areas considered to be at high risk for coronavirus infection.

In addition to the areas on the main island of Luzon, parts of Visayas and Mindanao islands -- including Davao City and Davao del Norte on Mindanao -- are subject to the two-week extension from May 1, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

(A woman talks to a soldier on a street in Manila on April 23, 2020) [Getty/Kyodo]

The lockdown, officially called "enhanced community quarantine," imposes strict home quarantine and suspension of travel. It was prompted by rising cases of infection in the Southeast Asian country, which reported 6,981 cases and 462 deaths as of Thursday.

Roque said areas not under the lockdown will still see less stringent measures enforced by authorities as part of "general community quarantine."

In those areas, workers will be allowed to go out and work in phases, but young people, senior citizens and others with high health risk are to stay at home, according to the spokesman.

Public transport will be available but at reduced capacity, while essential construction projects are to go ahead.

Air and sea ports will remain open in those areas, but only to transport goods.