Tuguegarao City extends MECQ until May 7

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The city government has extended its modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for another seven days from May 1 to May 7 as COVID-19 cases continue to spike.

In a Friday briefing, Mayor Jefferson Soriano said the Regional Inter Agency Task Force (RIATF) has approved the extension recommended by the city and has imposed a 10-percent seating capacity for diners at restaurants and 30-percent capacity for barbershops, spas, salons, and beauty parlors.

Tuguegarao underwent ECQ for 14-days which would have been lifted on Friday.

But on April 30, the city health office recorded 1,088 active cases, including 83 fresh cases, out of the total 4,394 infections.

Soriano said the city is addressing the absence of other quarantine facilities given that COVID-19 beds at hospitals are all occupied. The mayor said this forced health authorities to allow “home quarantine” for the infected, but with strict monitoring. But only ten percent of COVID-19 patients are permitted to stay at home.

Dr. James Guzman, city health officer, said Tuguegarao has been classified as a “high epidemic risk” zone.

“For every 100,000 people, there are 47 registered COVID-19 patients a day,” Guzman said.

Meanwhile, Aparri Mayor Bryan Dale Chan has recommended a shift from a general community quarantine (GCQ) to MECQ for the town, but is still awaiting the concurrence of the Cagayan government and the RIATF’s approval.

Aparri had 138 active cases as of Thursday (April 29), including 12 local government employees which prompted the closure of the town hall until May 7 for disinfection. VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. 

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