MANILA- Backrides, even for couples, will remain prohibited in general community quarantine areas, the Philippine National Police said Friday.

Only one person is allowed to ride a motorcycle in adherence to the guidelines of the government's pandemic task force, Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield commander Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said.

"Sa ngayon po, hindi talaga pwede kahit sino. Kahit pulis, hindi dapat nag-aangkasan so isa lang po ang pwedeng sasakay sa motorsiklo sa ngayon," he said in a virtual press briefing.

(For now, no one is allowed to backride. Even policemen are prohibited from doing so. Only one person can ride a motorcycle.)

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Backrides will violate physical distancing measures, he said. The government requires the public to stay at least a meter apart from each other to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Starting Monday, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Pangasinan, Albay, and Davao City will be under general community quarantine.

The rest of the country will shift to a modified general community quarantine, a step higher before the full easing of movement curbs.

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With the further easing of restrictions, Eleazar said the PNP would continue to implement random inspections at checkpoints.

He also reminded the public that only those who need to buy essential goods, and those going to work are allowed outside of their homes.

"Hindi po ibig sabihin nito na authorized na tayo mamasyal o dalawin yung ating mga kaibigan at kamag-anak," he said.

(This doesn't mean that everyone is authorized to go sight-seeing or visit their friends and relatives.)

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