MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the inclusion of the province of Albay and Zamboanga City in the list of areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Malacañang said Monday.
This was confirmed through a memorandum released by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea dated May 2.
A copy of President Duterte’s memorandum
“An enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is hereby implemented in the entire geographic area encompassed by the boundaries of Albay province and Zamboanga City, effective midnight tonight until 11:59 p.m. of 15 May 2020,” the memorandum read.
Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Infectious Diseases said it recommended the inclusion of two areas following appeal from its local governments.
The President earlier extended the ECQ in Metro Manila and several “high-risk” provinces until May 15 to contain the coronavirus. Meanwhile, areas “low-risk” for the coronavirus transmission were placed under a GCQ starting May 1 where some restrictions were relaxed.
As of Monday, there are 9,585 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 623 fatalities and 1,315 recoveries.