Bichara: Albay not shifting to ECQ

MANILA, Philippines — A shift to the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Albay may not be necessary despite a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to Gov. Al Francis Bichara.

Bichara said active cases in the province have dropped since it reverted from modified general community quarantine to GCQ.

“Humingi lang kami ng kaunting panahon para makita natin kung bababa pa ito... Pag nag-ECQ naman sarado na naman ang ekonomiya dito at maraming naghihirap... kulang na naman ang perang dapat pambigay na ayuda sa mga household,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

Doctors in Bicol have expressed alarm over the COVID situation in the region, which they likened to India. They appealed for the imposition of ECQ in Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.

The Philippine Medical Association said the three major hospitals in the region are running out of beds while their intensive care units are at full capacity. Doctors also cited a shortage in healthcare workers.

Bichara said he ordered the closure of resorts and the implementation of stricter health protocols as a precautionary measure.

He noted that most of the infections are coming from the workplace or travelers outside the region, particularly Metro Manila.

Bichara said they could not impose border control as it would only result in heavy traffic.

Ilocos town reverts to MECQ

In Ilocos Sur, the municipality of Magsingal reverted to modified ECQ starting on Wednesday.

The provincial COVID-19 task force recommended the stricter quarantine status amid a rise in infections.

Gov. Ryan Luis Singson said the threat of COVID-19 in the province remains high, with 688 active cases, 39 of them from Magsingal, recorded on June 15.

Burgos, Cabugao, Narvacan, San Vicente, Sta. Maria, Sto. Domingo and Vigan City are the other areas in Ilocos Sur which remain under MECQ.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said governors could impose stricter quarantine measures or declare a lockdown without asking permission from the national government.

The DILG said local chief executives should ensure that quarantine protocols would not go against the policies of the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In Samar, Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy issued an executive order on Tuesday lifting the ECQ in Barangay Maulog and placing it under GCQ on Tuesday after COVID cases “decreased dramatically.”

Uy said the remaining 56 barangays in the city would remain under ECQ.

He said the strictest quarantine status would be lifted once COVID cases go down.

Uy said travel restrictions would continue to be enforced in high-risk areas to hasten contract tracing. – Eva Visperas, Miriam Desacada