Urdaneta under GCQ until September 9

URDANETA CITY, Philippines – This city has reverted to general community quarantine (GCQ) due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Mayor Julio Parayno issued an executive order placing the city under GCQ starting yesterday until Sept. 9.

With the stricter quarantine classification, curfew hours were extended from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., a liquor ban was imposed, mass gatherings were prohibited, gaming and amusement centers not allowed to operate, and persons below 15 years old and those with health concerns told to stay home.

The provincial health office said Urdaneta recorded 125 active cases on Thursday.

Villasis town had earlier reverted to GCQ until Aug. 31.

The rest of Pangasinan is under modified GCQ.

In Sual town, Mayor Liseldo Calugay ordered the lockdown of a coal-fired power plant operated by Team Energy in Barangay Pangascasan until Sept. 10 after 14 employees were found infected.

“The purpose of this total lockdown is to isolate the infected employees and control their interaction with other people to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Calugay said.

The power plant shall continue its operation with health and safety protocols observed at all times.

The Sual power plant has been providing electricity to the Luzon grid since 1999. – Cesar Ramirez