15 more days of MGCQ in Western Visayas

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

The national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) extended the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in Western Visayas to June 30, 2020.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III announced late Monday evening the quarantine classification of the regions as stipulated by IATF-EID Resolution No. 46-A.

According to Duque, the classifications were based on the epidemic risk-level, economic, social, and security considerations and the appeals and commitment of the local government units (LGUs).

The MGCQ, which was supposed to end June 15, is the last community quarantine stage against COVID-19 before the so-called new normal.

Before the announcement, the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental already issued executive orders extending the MGCQ in their respective areas from June 16 to June 30.

In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas issued two executive orders on Monday repealing the liquor ban and adjusting the curfew hours within Iloilo City.

The mayor issued EO No. 86-C amending Section 8 of EO No. 86 which provided the guidelines for MGCQ in Iloilo City and thereby repealing the ban on the sale and consumption of liquor and alcoholic beverages within the metro.

“The liquor ban provided for under Section 8 of Executive Order No. 86-A shall be repealed expressly; subject its reimposition if there are recorded violations of laws or health and safety protocols in Iloilo City,” the EO said.

In a separate EO, the mayor also amended Section 7 (G) of EO No. 086 adjusting the curfew hours in Iloilo City to 12 a.m. up to 3 a.m. with considerations to those who work in BPOs/KPOs, warehouses and logistics, ports, food manufacturing, storage and preservation, hospitals, media, and other similar occupations.

“All persons shall continue to observe the curfew in effect within Iloilo City which is from 12:00 a.m. up to 3:00 a.m. for the period covered by the MGCQ until the same is lifted or extended by the IATF.”

All provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in Western Visayas have transitioned from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to MGCQ on June 1, 2020 and were classified as low-risk for Covid-19 by the national pandemic task force.

As of Tuesday, the total COVID-19 cases in the region were 153 with 39 active cases, 103 recoveries, and 11 deaths.