Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16) — A total of 3,584 violators were caught on the first night of implementation of the uniform curfew in Metro Manila. Of that number, 1,449 were arrested, Task Force COVID Shield said on Tuesday.

The curfew, set at 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., began Monday night and will be in place for two weeks in an attempt to slow the fast-rising spread of the coronavirus in the National Capital Region.

Meanwhile, authorities said 1,588 individuals were fined and another 547 were given a first warning but were eventually released.

Around 9,000 police officers were deployed to enforce the curfew. The independent research group OCTA earlier approved of the measure, saying it can lower the reproduction rate in Metro Manila, which has climbed to 2.03 as of Monday night. This means two people are getting infected by a single COVID-19 patient.

Among those exempted from the movement restriction are essential workers on duty, employees who are on their way to and from work, people dealing with medical emergencies, and those coming to and arriving from the airport.

Apart from the curfew, minors in NCR, particularly those aged 15-17, will also be barred from leaving their homes for non-essential travel for two weeks starting Wednesday as an added move against viral transmission.

READ: Curfew can help reduce COVID-19 reproduction rate, OCTA Research says