DOH, IATF recommend GCQ for Cordillera Administrative Region

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) have recommended putting the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) under the stricter general community quarantine from its current status of modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

This was revealed by Dr. Ruby Constantino, regional director of DOH-CAR, at the Kapihan sa Baguio forum on Saturday.

The recommendation was given on Friday night during the meeting of DOH and IATF after 11 cases of the UK coronavirus variant were detected in one barangay in Bontoc, according to a report by Bam Alegre on 24 Oras News Alert on Saturday.

Seventeen cases of the UK coronavirus variant have been reported so far in the country.

Ifugao, Kalinga and Baguio City which are all part of CAR are in the top five high-risk areas for COVID-19.

The DOH-CAR however said that since the transmission of the virus in other parts of Cordillera is still low, it may be better to implement localized lockdowns instead.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on Saturday said it is still premature to say if there is community transmission already of the UK coronavirus variant.

No final decision has been given yet by the government regarding the possible change of community quarantine status of CAR.

The region is under MGCQ until January 31. —KG, GMA News