By Leilanie Adriano/ Philippine News Agency
LAOAG CITY – At least two cities and 19 towns of Ilocos Sur province will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for two weeks starting Sept. 22 due to the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases.
In a six-page executive order penned by Gov. Ryan Luis V. Singson on Monday (Sept. 21), he said the number of residents in the province being infected with Covid-19 continues to rise at an “alarming rate.”
To slow down local transmission of the current 3,285 active cases, mostly involving government front-liners, Singson said there is a need to impose ECQ in the cities of Vigan and Candon, as well as the municipalities of Bantay, Cabugao, Caoayan, Del Pilar, Magsingal, Narvacan, Salcedo, San Ildefonso, San Juan, San Vicente, Santa, Santiago, Sinait, Sta. Catalina, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Maria, Sto. Domingo, and Suyo.
The remaining 13 municipalities will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions until Sept. 30 in accordance with the Inter-Agency Task Force guidelines.
From Sept. 22 to Oct. 6 or unless sooner lifted, the movement of residents in the said local government units is strictly limited to emergency and medical purposes.
“There will also be heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures,” Singson said.
All forms of mass gatherings will also be prohibited except for the provision of health services, government services, or duly authorized humanitarian activities.
Curfew is also set from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and a total liquor ban during the ECQ period. (PNA)
