The government has tightened the community quarantine status of three provinces for the next two weeks in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Cagayan, Apayao, and Benguet have been reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from May 10 to 23, 2021 based on the latest resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). The resolution on the change of quarantine status, issued by the task force on May 9, was released by the Palace Monday, May 10.
The three provinces were originally under the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) status until May 31.
"It is hereby resolved, that upon the recommendation of the Screening and Validation Committee, Cagayan, Apayao, and Benguet shall be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine from May 10, 2021, to May 23, 2021," the IATF Resolution No. 114-C read.
"The risk-level classifications of the aforementioned provinces shall be without prejudice to their reclassification as may be warranted and the declaration of localized Enhanced Community Quarantine in critical areas," it added.
Baguio City is not included in the MECQ classification, according to the Palace.
Based on the Department of Health data, the coronavirus cases in Cagayan have reached 10,504 including 1,317 active cases and 103 deaths, as of May 9. Benguet recorded 7,865 cases of infections, including 400 active cases and 143 deaths. Apayao listed 936 cases of infections with 53 active cases and four deaths.
Other areas under MECQ are Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quirino, Abra, Ifugao, Zamboanga City, and Santiago City, Isabela until May 14. The Palace had said it was possible for NCR Plus to shift to the less restrictive general community quarantine by mid-May due to the improved health care capacity and drop in coronavirus cases.
Areas under GCQ are Baguio City, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Quezon, Puerto Princesa City, Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur until May 31. The rest of the country remained under the most relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
More than 1.1 million people have been infected with the coronavirus while up to 18,000 others died in the country. The government has earlier tightened the quarantine rules to limit the movement and curb the spread of the virus.