More cops to enforce MECQ in Bacolod

MANILA, Philippines — At least 40 personnel of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Western Visayas have been deployed in Bacolod City to help enforce modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ rules.

Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, city police spokesman, said the police officers would help regulate the entry of non-residents, among other quarantine protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Pico said the police and military in Negros Occidental would augment their contact tracing teams.

He said the Bacolod police has 47 contact tracers while the Negros Occidental police has 326.

The 303rd Infantry Brigade deployed 20 soldiers to serve as contact tracers.

The Bacolod City health office said 1,931 confirmed cases, 234 of them locally stranded individuals and overseas Filipino workers, were recorded in the city on Wednesday.

Bacolod was placed under MECQ from Sept. 8 to 30 amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

In Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, which is also under MECQ, two children of the latest fatality are among the new confirmed cases.

Nueva Vizcaya logged 15 cases yesterday. Among the new patients is a 10-year-old girl whose father contracted the virus during gym sessions with a health worker.

Twenty-five fitness enthusiasts who were exposed to the health worker tested positive for the virus.

Village lockdown

In Pangasinan, five barangays in Bayambang town will be locked down from Sept. 12 to 26.

Mayor Cezar Quiambao issued an executive order (EO) placing Barangays Cadre Site, Darawey, Bical Norte, Tambac and Ambayat First on lockdown.

Quiambao said Block III of the meat and fish section and canteen in the public market are closed from Sept. 10 to 16.

The EO also imposes a liquor ban, which started yesterday, and requires residents to get a permit from the rural health unit before they can hold gatherings.

52 more cops infected

Meanwhile, the number of police officers who contracted the virus is now 4,837.

The Philippine National Police said 52 cases were recorded on Wednesday. The number of fatalities remains at 16.

Calabarzon recorded 13 new cases; Ilocos, 10; Metro Manila, nine; Central Luzon, six, and Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao, one each.

Around 4,000 other police officers, who manifested symptoms, are under observation. – Eva Visperas, Emmanuel Tupas, Raymund Catindig