MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — There seems to be “no improvement” in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao despite the earlier imposition of a “prolonged” enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in certain parts of the regions, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.
In an online Go Negosyo forum, Duque said he is set to have an emergency meeting with health undersecretaries and regional directors to discuss the matter.
“After this, I am having an emergency meeting with our undersecretaries and regional directors where there is a sustained high community transmission of COVID-19 in regions such as Region 7-Central Visayas and also Region 10-Northern Mindanao,” Duque said as he explained that he had to leave the forum early.
“So we need to address these. Despite the prolonged ECQ community quarantine status, there seems to be no improvement and it’s really troubling, to say the least,” he added.
According to DOH’s online tracker, there are 8,884 active COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas and 5,157 active cases in Northern Mindanao as of August 22.
Certain provinces and local government units in Regions 7 and 10 were earlier placed under ECQ but have since been downgraded to a less restrictive quarantine classification.
Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City’s status has been de-escalated from the most restrictive ECQ to modified ECQ from August 16 to 31.