BUTUAN CITY - The Regional Task Force on Covid-19-One Caraga Shield (RTF-COCS) unanimously passed a resolution on Friday, July 3, requesting the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to have locally stranded individuals (LSIs) tested for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection before they are allowed to return to Caraga region.
The Caraga RTF-COCS issued this resolution ahead of the scheduled return of 141 LSIS on Friday, July 10, to Caraga region from Manila and other parts of the country.
The local officials in Caraga region were worried of a spike of COVID-19 cases when these LSIs return home.
To date, Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region has 161 COVID-19 positive cases.
The request was made during the RTF-COCS regular meeting presided by Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera.
The 141 LSIs were supposed to return on June 27 but it was temporarily halted through a request by the regional task force, citing the spike of COVID-19 cases in Caraga region.
Of the 141 LSIs, 14 were from Agusan del Norte, 61 in Agusan del Sur, 27 in Surigao del Norte, 8 in the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI), 14 in Surigao del Sur, and 17 in this region’s premier and capital city of Butuan.
The province of Agusan del Norte and Butuan City are currently classified under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) with strict local action, while the rest of the provinces in Caraga are now under MGCQ.
However, 33 Butuan villages are under MECQ due to reported local transmission by the health authorities.
The 33 barangays include Agao, Agusan Pequeño, Ambago, Baan KM. 3, Baan Riverside, Bading, Bayanihan, Buhangin, Dagohoy, Diego Silang, Doongan, Dumalagan, Fort Poyohon, Golden Ribbon, Holy Redeemer, Humabon, Imadejas, J. P. Rizal, Lapu-Lapu, Leon Kilat, Libertad, Limaha, New Society Village, Obrero, Ong Yiu, Rajah Soliman, San Ignacio, San Vicente, Sikatuna, Silongan, Tandang Sora, Urduja, and Villa Kanangga.
As of July 3, Butuan City has 36 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 15 recoveries and zero death.