Guv: We are not lifting ECQ yet

By Dolly Yasa

Bacolod City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province will continue to be under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) despite the start of the transition to General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

“We are not lifting the ECQ yet” Lacson said.

The transition from ECQ to GCQ starts today, April 20, 2020, based on Executive Order No. 2020-20B issued by Lacson Thursday last week.

Lacson also assured that the provincial government is not easing  its guard against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the transition.

The governor said the ECQ in Negros Occidental will remain in place until April 30, although there will be minor changes as mandated by EO No. 2020-20B.

“These changes we believe will not be detrimental to our goal of minimizing, if not eliminating this COVID-19 menace. The game plan now is really to go back to normalcy come April 30,” Lacson said.

He said one of the minor changes is to allow tricycle and trisikads, which are the main transportation means in the towns and cities in the province, to operate.

Lacson said this concern was brought up by local chief executives as those who have home quarantine pass cannot go about their business of acquiring home necessities because they have no means of transportation.

He also pointed out that despite the new EO, the strict home quarantine of residents in Negros Occidental will remain with only one member of a family allowed to go out to buy essential needs until April 30.

Lacson further said that the province continues to be “COVID-19 free” with no additional cases and the lone and first COVID-19 patient had tested negative for the virus and was already sent home.

Probable cases continue to go down, Lacson said, adding that suspected cases are expected to increase after overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and construction workers stranded in Manila and Iloilo arrived in the province last week.

He assured that the OFWs are monitored at the Mambukal Resort where they are under 14-day quarantine period.

“We are in control of these people, there is a 100 percent batting average that they cannot pass on this contagion,” the governor said.

All borders into Negros Occidental will also remain closed to prevent unauthorized entry into the province, he added.