La Union under ‘community quarantine’ from March 16 as 13 PUIs recorded

La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III on Sunday placed the province under a “community quarantine” from March 16 to April 12.

The declaration came out after the Department of Health reported 13 patients under investigation or PUIs for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the province.

Ortega said the community quarantine may be shortened or extended depending on the recommendations of the provincial inter-agency task force on COVID-19.

Under the declaration, movement to and from La Union will be restricted as residents will only be limited to going out of their homes only when necessary.

Suspension of classes has also been encouraged but school officials were advised to come up with learning schemes for their students.

The quarantine period will also allow the disinfection of schools.

Work in the provincial government was also suspended, except for those whose services are necessary during the quarantine period, Ortega said.

The curfew will also be implemented between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the quarantine period in coordination with local police.

The COVID-19 outbreak emerged in China’s Wuhan City in Hubei province in late 2019. It is caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2.

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic since it has infected more than 150,000 people and killed nearly 6,000 all over the world. The Philippines has so far confirmed 140 people with COVID-19, including 11 deaths.