As COVID-19 cases surge, Bukidnon asks IATF to impose stricter GCQ

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The provincial government of Bukidnon has sought the imposition of stricter quarantine measures in light of surging COVID-19 infections in the province.

The request for an elevated quarantine status from the current modified general community quarantine to general community quarantine (GCQ) is contained in a resolution of the provincial interagency task force (IATF) on COVID-19 to the national IATF.

Dr. Gary Guido Tabios Jr., Bukidnon’s provincial health officer, noted that towards the end of May, infections in the province have increased by 200 percent every two weeks.

Based on data from the Department of Health, the province’s total COVID-19 cases have grown by 54 percent between May 15 and June 4, from 3,232 to 4,966. This means an average of 86 new cases per day.

As of June 11, the province has 1,049 active cases.

The rapid increase of infections has put pressure on the capacity of the Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center (BPMC), the main COVID-19 referral facility in the province.

Although, Dr. Miguel Antonio Prantilla, BPMC chief, said it is a consolation that some private level II hospitals have already prepared to take in COVID-19 cases, on the earlier request of Governor Jose Maria Zubiri for them to dedicate up to 20 percent of their capacity for coronavirus patients.

Several days ago, Zubiri, upon recommendation of the provincial IATF, placed Valencia City and the towns of Manolo Fortich, Kibawe, and Talakag under GCQ to help curb new infections.

/MUF