Home lockdowns, stricter MGCQ extended in Pampanga

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga –– For the third time, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda has extended the enforcement of home lockdowns and other stricter measures under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until May 15 to stop the rise in COVID-19 cases and ease the pressure on hospitals in the province.

Pineda also signed Executive Order No. 5-C on Friday at the request of the Pampanga Mayors League to prolong the implementation of a stringent MGCQ.

EO No. 5 and its amended versions were enforced on March 20 to April 5, April 5 to 15, and April 15 to 30 to address surges in COVID-19.

“The continuing high number of daily reported COVID-19 cases has contributed to the overwhelming of hospitals and the health care system nationwide and has not spared Central Luzon and the province,” Pineda said in the EO.

After Bulacan, Pampanga has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

As of April 29, the provincial health office reported 308 new cases, 3,330 active cases, 11,131 recoveries, and 710 deaths. Most of these are in the cities of San Fernando, Angeles, and Mabalacat.

“There is a need to continue implementing stringent measures and health protocols prevent a further surge of COVID-19 cases and ease the high and critical levels of the health care system in the province,” the EO stated.

The measures include the reactivation of checkpoints in the barangays, requiring non-Pampanga residents to present results of swabbing test taken 72 hours before entry to the province, and halting visits to other villages.

Also prohibited are social gatherings, leaving homes, and selling and buying liquor.

Pineda again enforced curfew and regulated market hours.

Only workers and traders are allowed to leave their homes.

LZB