Iloilo City placed under MECQ due to 'sudden hike' in COVID-19 cases

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases has placed Iloilo City under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from September 25 to October 9, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday.

Roque said the more stringent community quarantine designation was made upon the request of the local government unit of Iloilo City, "citing the sudden
increase of confirmed cases in their jurisdiction."

"Its community quarantine classification after the said date shall be decided upon by the IATF, based on the COVID-19 situation of the locality," Roque said of IATF Resolution No. 74.

As of Sept. 24, Iloilo has logged a total of 2,037 COVID-19 cases. The number of active cases is at 895.

Roque said the resolution also stated that facility-based isolation was now required for asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases across the country.

“Except where, as confirmed by the local health officer, the patient is considered vulnerable or having comorbidities and that his/her home meets the conditions specified in the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government Joint Administrative Order 2020-0001,” Roque said.

“Another exception would be when the Ligtas COVID-19 Centers within the region are fully occupied and the local government unit does not have sufficient isolation facilities,” he added.

Experts from the University of the Philippines earlier urged the government to place Bacolod, Iligan, and Iloilo City under MECQ due to a rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. 

Bacolod, Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Batangas are currently under the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) until September 30.

The Philippines has logged 296,755 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon. 

The IATF also confirmed that Boracay Island may begin accepting tourists from areas that are under GCQ or modified GCQ.

“In this regard, the Test-Before-Travel (policy) shall be implemented and strict quarantine shall be observed immediately after undergoing the test until the date of the travel to the island,” Roque said. -BAP/NB, GMA News