The local government of Tuguegarao City is recommending the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the city amid the increase in COVID-19 cases.
Latest data show that 236 of the 373 total COVID-19 cases in Cagayan are from Tuguegarao. At least 26 cases are recorded on the average in the city within the past seven days.
Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano has already written to Governor Manuel Mamba to ask for the 10-day implementation of ECQ from January 20 to January 29 with a five-day extension if necessary. The local government is expecting that the regional Inter-Agency Task Force will approve the request, considering that the increase in cases has been observed as early as December.
“Ang hirap ikontrol kung ang community quarantine status mo ay masyadong maluwag (It is difficult to control if the community quarantine status is very relaxed),” Mamba explained.
The increase has been attributed to the massive flooding in the province and the holiday season. Mamba said they are now preparing for cash aid and assistance to barangays to maintain their isolation facilities.
ECQ is currently implemented in the Municipality of Baggao after 65 individuals tested positive for COVID-19. – Report from Kenneth Paciente
