9 areas in Ilocos Norte revert to stricter curbs

Health workers in Ilocos Norte province continue to conduct aggressive contact tracing to determine the virus carriers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. (Contributed photo)

LAOAG CITY—At least eight towns and a city in Ilocos Norte will revert to the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) starting Friday, July 23, amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases, according to Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc.

In an executive order Wednesday, Manotoc said Batac City and Bangui, Dingras, Dumalneg, Marcos, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin, and Solsona towns would revert to the second most stringent community quarantine in the country, which would last until further notice.

These areas were previously on a modified general community quarantine, the least constricting form of quarantine.

Batac has the second-highest number of active COVID-19 cases in the province with 185, followed by Bangui (99), Bacarra (91), Sarrat (84), Paoay (56), San Nicolas (52), Dingras (47), Pagudpud (42), Currimao (41), Pasuquin (34), Carasi (26), and Marcos (24).

Solsona and Dumalneg, which are already on MECQ, have less than 15 active COVID-19 cases.

Laoag City, which is also on MECQ since July 10, has 765 active cases.

Manotoc said the decision to place the nine areas under MECQ was initially planned based on his discussions with the mayors over the past few days.

While these areas are under MECQ, the movement of people will be limited to access to essential goods and services, and people below 18 and over 65 years old, those with health problems, and pregnant women are required to stay at home.

Manotoc also banned non-essential gatherings and imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

As of July 21, Ilocos Norte has 5,891 COVID-19 cases, of which 1,624 remain active. Recoveries have reached 4,164, while the death toll stood at 103.

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