DOH bucks ECQ for Cebu City

MANILA, Philippines — There is no need to place Cebu City under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ amid the rising cases of COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they do not favor placing the city under ECQ.

“Based on current indicators for COVID-19, a stricter lockdown is not needed in Cebu City,” Vergeire said at a press briefing.

According to Vergeire, the two-week “growth rate” in Cebu decreased by 23 percent in terms of reported cases while the average daily attack rate is at less than one per 100,000 population.

The DOH issued the statement after the Emergency Operations Center said Cebu City may be placed under ECQ before the end of November.

Lockdown

In Pangasinan, a lockdown was enforced in Barangay Labayug, Sison town after 27 employees of a private company tested positive for COVID-19.

The provincial health office said the municipality of Sison ranks No. 1 in Pangasinan’s watchlist for COVID-19.

Mayor Danilo Uy said four more residents of Barangay Labayug were found positive for the disease, bringing to 66 the number of COVID-19 cases.

As of Thursday,  there were 1,906 COVID-19 cases in Pangasinan with 262 active cases, 1,570 recoveries and 74 deaths.

Mayor positive for virus

Mayor Gilbert Go of Giporlos town in Eastern Samar has tested positive for COVID-19.

Go is among the eight new cases of COVID-19 in the town.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone yesterday issued an Executive Order, reverting the province to general community quarantine from modified GCQ amid the spike in COVID-19 cases.

COVID-free no more

The coastal town of Palanan, Isabela is no longer free of COVID-19 after two men tested positive for the virus yesterday.

Local health officers said a 53-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital after manifesting symptoms of COVID-19 on Nov. 2.

The second patient, an 18-year-old man, was admitted at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center after he complained of shortness of breath.

The patient was brought to a quarantine facility in Isabela.

Three other towns in Isabela – Maconacon, Divilacan and Dinapigue – remain COVID-free. – Eva Visperas, Miriam Desacada, Raymund Catindig