The province of Quirino will stay under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until the end of April in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, Malacañang announced Friday.
The latest decision on the risk classification of Quirino was reached by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) during the a meeting via video conference Thursday, April 15, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
The province, located in Cagayan Valley, was originally placed under the MECQ, the second highest in the four-level risk classification to curb the coronavirus outbreak from April 1 to April 15. As of April 15, the Department of Health reported the province has recorded 1,076 cases, including 427 active cases and nine deaths.
"It is hereby resolved, that upon the recommendation of the Screening and Validation Committee, the IATF approves the extension of the risk-level classification of Quirino Province as Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine, without prejudice to their reclassification as may be warranted and the declaration of localized Enhanced Community Quarantine in critical areas, until April 30, 2021," the IATF Resolution No. 110-A read.
"The continued implementation of proactive measures and restrictions must be put in place to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, buy time for the health system to cope, and to protect more lives," it added.
The government earlier relaxed the two-week strict lockdown in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces and placed them under the less restrictive MECQ until the end of April. The MECQ rules include stay-at-home rule except for going to work and accessing essential goods and services, travel restrictions, as well as limited public gatherings and business operations.
Apart from National Capital Region Plus and Quirino, other areas under MECQ are Santiago City in Isabela and the province of Abra this month.
Areas under more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) are Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Tacloban City (Region 8), Iligan City (Region 10), Davao City (Region 11), and Lanao del Sur (BARMM), and Quezon will be under general community quarantine (GCQ).
The rest of the country will be under the most relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).