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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zubiri calls for stricter COVID-19 measures in Northern Mindanao

Zubiri calls for stricter COVID-19 measures in Northern Mindanao

Published May 24, 2021 08:48 pm

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday, May 24, appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to imposes measures to control the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in northern Mindanao.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)

The senator issued the appeal as he expressed alarm over the reported spike in the coronavirus infections in the region, which he said the IATF should also focus on.

“As a resident of Northern Mindanao, I am very alarmed by the recent surge of COVID-19 cases across the region,” Zubiri said in a statement.

“Two weeks ago, our regional IATF already reported a 300 percent rise in cases in Lanao del Norte. And this weekend, CDO reported that their numbers have risen to 962, from just 100-plus in March. In Bukidnon, our medical frontliners are struggling to deal with the sudden surge of COVID-19 patients," he further said.

“Our hospitals are already filling up. I know that Bukidnon Provincial Medical Hospital (BPMH) is full, along with some of our private hospitals. And Northern Mindanao Medical Center has already raised its status to Code Red, with 50 percent of their operating capacity taken up by COVID cases," he added.

“I am appealing to the IATF to impose stricter measures in Northern Mindanao to control the rise of cases, and to instruct the regional IATF to enforce these measures now before the outbreak gets worse," Zubiri appealed.

Zubiri specifically called for a stricter quarantine classification as most areas of the region are placed under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) for the months of May, except Iligan City, Davao City and Lanao del Sur, which are under the more restrictive GCQ.

“The region might benefit from a change in our quarantine classification, as well as localized lockdowns in areas with particularly alarming surges," he said

He also suggested to reinstitute the negative COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travellers.

"I hope the IATF can assess the situation and enforce the necessary measures as quickly as possible. We must act now before it gets out of hand," Zubiri asked.

Related Tags

mecq MGCQ covid-19 coronavirus quarantine IATF migz zubiri GCQ
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