The Ilocos Norte government will temporarily suspend the entry of returning residents for two weeks starting August 1 amid stricter quarantine curbs. (Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte provincial government)
LAOAG CITY — The Ilocos Norte government will stop accepting returning residents for now to contain the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc said on Wednesday (July 28).
In a press briefing, Manotoc said the temporary ban is expected to be implemented during the imposition of a province-wide modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for two weeks from Aug. 1-14.
Currently, the province is on a general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions. GCQ is the second least restrictive form of quarantine in the country.
The suspension will be lifted if the surge is contained after the duration of the MECQ, the governor said.
The accommodation of regional flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for Filipinos landing in the Laoag International Airport will also be halted.
“[There are] no plans to accept regional flights now because we need to address the problems in Ilocos Norte,” he said.