Negros Occidental seeks stricter quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Local chief executives of Negros Occidental are unanimous in recommending to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF to place Negros Occidental under general community quarantine (GCQ) for two weeks.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who presided over a Zoom meeting of mayors in the province yesterday, said they would submit their recommendation to the Regional IATF.

Lacson said border control would be reimposed even as the delivery of essential goods and services would remain unhampered.

He said local government officials agreed on a curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Negros Occidental is under modified GCQ until the end of this month.

The province, including Bacolod City, recorded 1,132 active COVID-19 cases as of Thursday.

Lacson blamed the spike in cases to an IATF resolution, which removed swab testing and quarantine for visitors.

Governors in Western Visayas provinces had earlier asked the IATF to extend the travel ban until April 17.

The travel ban, except returning overseas Filipino workers, from Manila, Cebu and Davao ends today.

In La Union, another local government unit sought to revert to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

San Fernando Mayor Alfredo Pablo Ortega issued an executive order limiting the movement of residents for two weeks starting today.

The local inter-agency task force on COVID-19 said the surge in COVID-19 cases was due to the ongoing mass testing of Philippine National Police personnel at Camp Oscar Florendo.

The city logged 254 active cases on Wednesday, which had overwhelmed hospitals and isolation facilities.

La Union Gov. Emmanuel Ortega had earlier recommended that Luna, Naguilian, Tubao and Aringay be placed under MECQ.

Agoo Mayor Estafanie Ann Eriguel also sought a stricter quarantine status amid a surge in infections. – Raymund Catindig