2 Ilocos Sur cities placed under ECQ

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The cities of Vigan and Candon, both in Ilocos Sur, will be under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) along with 19 towns starting tomorrow until Oct. 6 due to rising COVID cases.

Gov. Ryan Singson yesterday issued Executive Order 106, placing Vigan and Candon as well as the towns of Bantay, Cabugao, Caoayan, Del Pilar, Magsingal, Narvacan, Salcedo, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa, Santiago, Sinait Sta. Catalina, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Maria, San Vicente, Sto. Domingo and Suyo under the strictest quarantine status for 15 days.

Ilocos Sur has 32 towns and two component cities.

Singson said the number of COVID cases in the province remains high and alarming even as the local government imposed interventions and measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

To minimize movement of people, public transportation will be suspended and strict home quarantine will be imposed during the ECQ.

Residents will be allowed to go out for essential and emergency purposes only.

Each household will be issued a quarantine pass that will allow only one member to to go out to procure essential commodities for the family.

A liquor ban will be in effect during the entire quarantine period.

Only APORS or authorized persons outside of residence, delivery men and returning overseas Filipinos are allowed to enter the province, provided they comply with health protocols.

Workers of establishments allowed to operate during ECQ will be issued passes.

Curfew hours will be from 9 p.m. until to 5 a.m.

Bishop contracts COVID anew

Meanwhile, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental tested positive for COVID for the second time.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Fr. Marjun Almario, the diocese’s chancellor, confirmed that the 62-year-old bishop contracted the virus, was asymptomatic and undergoing quarantine.

“We encourage people that he interacted with in the past few days to observe home quarantine and cooperate with the authorities for proper health protocols,” Almario said.

Alminaza first contracted COVID in June, which required him to be in hospital for six days. – Gilbert Bayoran