Nat’l task force okays MECQ in Iloilo City

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Citing sudden increase of confirmed cases, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) agreed to place Iloilo City under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).

IATF Resolution No. 74 dated Sept. 24, 2020 approved the MECQ declaration which runs from Sept 25 to Oct 9, 2020.

“Its community quarantine classification after the said date shall be decided upon by the IATF, based on the COVID-19 situation of the locality,” according to the resolution signed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, also the IATF co-chairperson.

In its COVID-19 Case Bulletin No. 181 dated September 24, Iloilo City accounted for 73 out of the 260 new cases in Western Visayas.

It tailed Bacolod City with 95 while Iloilo province is on third spot with 62.

Iloilo City has 2,037 cases, or 19.90 percent, of Western Visayas’ 10,234 total confirmed cases. It has 895 active cases, 1,090 recoveries and two deaths.

 

STRICTER QUARANTINE

Before the IATF announcement, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas announced Thursday morning that the COVID team has recommended to place Iloilo City under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) for 15 days.

A few hours later, Treñas said the COVID Team has made another recommendation to put the city under MECQ for 15 days.

He clarified, though, that all protocols for MECQ shall be under the executive order that he will eventually issue, but the official declaration shall come from IATF.

“The cases in the city continue to shoot up and we need your cooperation to help eliminate the virus. We need to act fast to protect the lives of the Ilonggos. Buligay lang kita kay malampasan ta guid ni (Let us help one another and we would overcome this.),” he said.

Within the day, Treñas released Executive Order No. 149, which amended Executive Order No. 140 which took effect 12 pm of Sept 24 until 11:59 p.m. of Oct 9.

EO No. 40 cited that “Iloilo City has experienced a steady increase of COVID-19 confirmed cases from September 1 up to the present, which includes local transmissions of the virus, in almost all sectors of the community, including those persons who are authorized outside of residence.”

The order absolutely prohibits the holding of traditional cockfighting and operational cockpits; beer houses and similar establishments; children’s amusement industries; barbershops, salons, and like establishments; all other establishments offering personal care and aesthetic procedures and services; gyms and fitness studios; testing and tutorial services; and review centers.

Also not allowed to operate are internet cafes, provided that the computer and internet will be used strictly for educational purposes or for work only; drive-in cinemas; pet grooming services; language driving, dance/acting/voice studios; entertainment industries; libraries, archives, museums, and cultural centers; tourist destinations; tattoo and body piercing; live events including conferences, seminars; and other forms of unauthorized public gatherings.

Further, hotels and other accommodation establishments shall be allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity.

It must be noted that these establishments shall have been “accredited and allowed to operate by the Department of Tourism, provided further that existing MECQ protocols for hotels shall be implemented.”

On the other hand, dining services for dining establishments, restaurants, and food establishments are allowed to operate at 50 percent venue capacity.

Curfew hours are now from 9 pm until 4 am.

Exceptions still apply for those who work in BPOs/KPOs; warehouses and logistics, ports, arrastre, food manufacturing, storage and preservation, hospitals, media, and other similar business or occupations require the employees to do to work after the curfew hours.

During the MECQ period, pregnant women, persons with comorbidities, immuno-deficiencies, and other risk factors, and persons with disabilities, immune-compromised individuals are advised to stay at home, except for access food, medicines and other essentials.

The new EO also banned the sale and consumption of liquor.

Establishments selling and dispensing alcoholic drinks may face appropriate sanctions, and so are individuals consuming liquor in public.

 

LOCKDOWNS

On Tuesday, Treñas announced that Iloilo City Hall will be closed from Sept 23-25 to give way to swab testing of all employees and officials.

Any employee or officials without a negative RT-PCR test result will not be allowed inside the premises of the city hall.

The following day, Treñas released Executive Order No. 148, imposing localized containment (total lockdown) measures for 13 barangays in the city for 120 hours starting today, September 22, 2020 at 6:00 PM until September 27, 2020 at 5:59 PM, until a longer period is required.

“Due to the rising number of cases in Simon Ledesma, Bolilao, Calumpang, Mansaya, Sooc Arevalo, Ortiz, San Isidro Jaro, Bo. Obrero, MH del Pilar Jaro, Punong Lapuz, Aguinaldo Lapaz, Lapuz Sur, and Concepcion, we have decided to put the 13 barangays under total lockdown to contain the possible spread of the virus,” Treñas announced.

Only IATF Officials, Iloilo City Officials, Iloilo City Health Office personnel, personnel distributing food and medicines, members of the COVID Task Force, Department of Health personnel, Red Cross personnel, members of the PNP, BFP, PSTMO, and force multipliers and volunteers maintaining peace and order, health care workers those engaged in cargo and public transportation, transport of essential goods, and sanitation personnel of the Iloilo City Government, Iloilo City Health Office, BFP, including volunteers and private personnel maintaining sanitation are allowed to go in and out of the lockdown barangays.

On Thursday, Treñas also placed Jalandoni Estate, Lapuz district under lockdown as we recorded 6 COVID-19 cases in the area.