IATF rejects Naga City’s request for ECQ extension

NAGA CITY- The Inter-Agency Task Force against Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) rejected on Saturday the request of Naga City to be placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until May 15, the city mayor said in a Facebook post on Monday.

In an official letter sent to Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III cited that the decision was based on the information and data analytics from the Department of Health.

In the resolution sent to the IATF, the Incident Management Team of Naga City stated that the city could not be considered a “moderate or low-risk area” as recommended by the Medical Task Force.

It was also stated in the resolution that there might be a resurgence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the city once it relaxes to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) being “the regional center of commerce, education and culture.”

Legacion said he could not unilaterally extend ECQ in the city as he does not have the authority to do so.

He, however, urged the public to stay home and strictly observe the applicable guidelines of GCQ.