2 Ilocos Sur towns revert to stricter quarantine

A health worker in Sinait town, Ilocos Sur administers a vaccine against COVID-19 to a senior citizen. Sinait and Sta. Lucia towns are the latest to be placed on a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine in the province. (Photo courtesy of Sinait government)

LAOAG CITY—The towns of Sinait and Sta. Lucia in Ilocos Sur province were placed on the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine for two weeks starting June 28 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson said in an executive order that of the 591 active cases in his province as of June 27, at least 63 were in Sinait, and 30 in Sta. Lucia.

“Despite interventions and implementation of measures, the threat of COVID-19 in the province remains very high and alarming,” Singson added.

He said the movement of people in Sinait and Sta. Lucia would be limited to accessing only essential goods and services.

Curfew and a ban on alcoholic drinks would be imposed in the towns from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., while all forms of nonessential social gatherings are banned, the governor said.

Ilocos Sur had logged 3,024 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began last year. Of these, at least 2,376 had recovered while 57 had died.

LZB