Surge in COVID-19 cases prompts Navotas to put 10 villages under ECQ

MANILA, Philippines — Ten villages with the highest number of coronavirus disease cases in Navotas City were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for eight days, the city government announced on Friday.

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said the lockdown was approved by the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases of the National Capital Region.

Tiangco said Barangay NBBS (Northbay Boulevard South) Dagat-Dagatan, NBBS Kaunlaran, NBBS Proper, San Jose, NBBN, Sipac Almacen, Daanghari, Tangos North, Tangos South, and San Roque will be under lockdown starting May 23, Saturday at 5:01 a.m. until May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Tiangco said the ECQ was imposed to ensure home quarantine is strictly observed and to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.

“Ang paghihigpit po na kaakibat ng pagpapatupad ng ECQ ay para rin sa ating kabutihan. Kailangan po nating mapigil ang pagdami ng mga kaso ng COVID-19. Malaki po ang maitutulong ng pananatili sa bahay para maiwasan nating mahawaan tayo o makahawa tayo sa iba,” he wrote on a Facebook post.

(We are strictly implementing the ECQ for our own good. We need to stop the surge of COVID-19 cases. It will be a big help to stay in our homes and avoid being infected or spreading of the disease.)

https://www.facebook.com/TiangcoToby/posts/3000101096746953?__tn__=-R&_rdc=1&_rdr

Tiangco previously appealed to the IATF-MEID to place Navotas under ECQ because it could not handle a second wave of coronavirus disease infections in the area during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

As of Thursday, May 21, Navotas posted 138 COVID-19 cases including 24 deaths and 30 recoveries.

Currently, the whole of Metro Manila is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from May 16 to May 31. Under MECQ, there is only a limited movement of people going to work and availing essential services.

There is also a gradual reopening of the economy which allowed select manufacturing and processing plants to operate up to a maximum of 50 percent capacity.

Meanwhile, under ECQ, there is no movement regardless of age and health status and there is no economic activity except for basic services.