ILOILO City – With cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rising, the city government is enforcing stricter community quarantine protocols.
The national government’s COVID inter-agency task force approved last night a 15-day Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) for the city, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The city government’s COVID Team pushed for the MECQ. The task force set it from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed to Panay News last night.
Treñas released yesterday an executive order stipulating stricter quarantine measures.
“We need your cooperation to eliminate the virus. We need to act fast. Buligay lang kita kay malampasan ta gid ini,” Treñas told the Ilonggos.
Executive Order (EO) No. 149 amended some provisions of EO No. 140 which, among others, imposed a 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew and liquor ban.
Pregnant women, persons with comorbidities, immuno-deficiencies and other risk factors, and persons with disabilities should stay at home except when accessing food, medicines and other essentials, or seeking medical care.
The following are also prohibited:
* salons and similar establishments
* establishments offering personal care and aesthetic procedures and services
* gyms and fitness studios (including sports facilities)
* testing and tutorial services; review centers
* internet cafés (unless internet services are used strictly for educational purposes or for work)
* drive-in cinemas
* pet grooming services
* language driving, acting, dance, voice schools
* entertainment industries
* libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers
* tourist destinations
* travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services and related activities
* tattoo and body piercing shops
* other forms of unauthorized public gatherings
Treñas also suspended flights for locally stranded individuals and repatriated overseas Filipinos for seven days effective Sept. 26.
“This will give us time to attend to our rising COVID-19 cases,” he said.
Treñas, however, has not ordered border controls.
“We do not want business establishments to be so much affected,” he explained.
The mayor further stressed that public utility vehicles continue to operate but that passengers must observe one-meter physical distancing.
Healthcare, manufacturing of essential goods, delivery and courier services and other businesses, as well as essential private and public construction projects are allowed to operate.
Restaurants are allowed to open but operations are limited to delivery and take out services.
Mass gatherings are prohibited except for those related to critical government services and humanitarian activities.
As of Sept. 22, the city had a total of 436 active COVID-19 cases of which 274 were in facility quarantine centers while 105 were in hospitals.
Iloilo City has so far logged 1,590 recovered COVID-19 cases and 36 deaths./PN
