Iloilo City placed under MECQ from May 23 to 31

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on Saturday approved the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status for Iloilo City starting May 23.

The MECQ will be in effect until May 31, the IATF resolution read, a copy of which was posted by the Iloilo City Government on its social media pages on Sunday.

The IATF decided to place Iloilo City under MECQ upon the appeal of the local government unit.

Iloilo City was previously under general community quarantine (GCQ).

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas on Sunday ordered the temporary closure and suspension of operations of the Iloilo City Hall beginning May 24 to give way to the decontamination and mass testing of personnel.

This was after 26 COVID-19 cases, including two fatalities, were reported among City Hall employees from May 1 to 22, he said.

In his executive order, Trenas cited the COVID Response Team report showing a 290% increase in the daily average rate of COVID-19 cases in the city in May 2021 from April 2021.

The City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) also reported a 660% increase in the number of active cases.

Trenas also said hospitals in Iloilo City have become overwhelmed these past few weeks due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The mayor added that Iloilo City has been in the high risk category as of May 15, 2021.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday flagged an upward COVID-19 trend in Visayas and Mindanao as it noted a “marked decline” in infections and hospital occupancy in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea De Guzman said 10 regions posted a positive case growth rate and increased average daily attack rate (ADAR) in the past two weeks: Regions 4B, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro. Iloilo City is part of Region 6.

De Guzman said the rise in cases in these areas was caused in part by relaxed adherence to health protocols and the spread of new coronavirus variants.

Apayao, Benguet, Cagayan

Meanwhile, the IATF also said Apayao, Benguet and Cagayan will retain their MECQ status until May 31, 2021. —KG, GMA News