GCQ extended in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has extended the general community quarantine (GCQ) classification in all towns and cities, except the town of Jovellar and Rapu-rapu, due to the continuous surge of COVID-19 cases in Albay.

Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara, Albay IATF chairperson, issued Executive Order No. 17 on Tuesday extending the GCQ classification in 13 towns and three cities following a consultation meeting with local executives.

The newly signed directive has superseded EO 16 which placed all towns and cities in Albay under GCQ until June 15.

Due to the continuing spike in COVID-19 cases recorded in various areas, particularly in Legazpi City, Daraga, and other towns considered high-risk areas, the IATF deemed to extend its tighter community quarantine until June 30.

Except for the towns of Jovellar and Rapu-rapu with low rate cases of COVID-19, extending the GCQ classification with stricter implementation of the minimum health protocols by local government units is expected to curb the rising cases of the deadly disease in the province.

On the recommendation of the Bicol IATF, it is expected that various LGUs would set up and implement tighter health protocols based on the declared community quarantine category.

The directive has instructed all local chief executives to enact the necessary orders and ordinances to enforce protocols with their respective jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Society (PMS) and the Philippine Colleges of Medicine (PCM) in Bicol has urged the BIATF to place under GCQ the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and their cities of Legazpi, Naga, and Sorsogon due to increasing COVID-19 cases in the past two months.