2-week ECQ sought for Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Doctors’ groups are asking President Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to place this city under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ for two weeks to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.

In a letter to the President, the Canlaon Medical Society and Negros Occidental Medical Society, both affiliates of the Philippine Medical Association, said the battle against COVID-19 is far from over.

The Canlaon Medical Society and Negros Occidental Medical Society are headed by Ma. Ivy Malata and Roberto Puerta, respectively.

Noting the spike of positive cases in Bacolod, Malata and Puerta said the local transmission is reaching its peak in the past few days.

They said some hospitals have reached their full bed capacity for COVID cases and several healthcare workers and frontliners have been confined or home-quarantined.

The groups said they are not equipped for a full-scale COVID-19 war, noting the city has only a few hospitals with limited capacity and equipment.

“We are a few steps from becoming the next epicenter. We hope you can help us prevent that from happening,” Malata and Puerta said in the letter.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the local COVID task force, said the national task force has the power to decide on the quarantine status of Bacolod.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the old Bacolod city hall building on Araneta street locked down starting yesterday after some employees got infected with the virus.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson does not want the province be reverted back to either general or enhanced community quarantine due to economic impact.

Antipolo areas on lockdown

Meanwhile, several areas in Antipolo, Rizal were placed under a seven-day lockdown beginning yesterday to contain the spread of COVID.

The areas on lockdown are Sitio Upper Ruhat 3A in Barangay Mambugan, Sitio Oreta’s 1st Street in Barangay San Isidro, Sitio Kamandag 3 in Barangays Nayon and Mayamot, and Zapanta Compound in Barangay San Roque.

The portions of Sitio Tubigan in Barangay Dalig, including Plaza Dilao and the streets of Matalino, Maganda, Masikap and Mahinhin, will also be placed on lockdown, according to Mayor Andrea Ynares.  – Neil Jayson Servallos