COVID-19 RESPONSE. Members of the local task force in Catarman, Northern Samar discuss updates on their coronavirus response on Oct. 13, 2020 photo. The 23 villages within the town center of Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar province have been placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting Thursday (Oct. 15, 2020) due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019. (Photo courtesy of Catarman local government)
TACLOBAN CITY – The 23 villages within the town center of Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar, have been placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting Thursday due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Under Resolution No. 12 signed by members of the Municipal Inter-agency Task Force against Covid-19 signed on Oct. 13, the stricter movement restriction takes effect from October 15 to 30.
The body passed the resolution after receiving reports that areas within the town center have 47 active cases of Covid-19. All of them are residents of the town’s 23 villages near the commercial center.
Also, 132 residents have been identified as close contacts of infected persons while 70 others have been tagged as secondary contacts.
“Considering the continuous rise of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the municipality, there is a need to restrict the movements of residents and provide appropriate protocols for all activities conducted within the municipality,” the resolution stated.
These 23 villages are Acacia, Airport Village, Bangkerohan, Baybay, Calachuchi, Cawayan, Casoy, Dalakit, Ipil-Ipil, Jose Abad Santos, Jose P. Rizal, Lapu-lapu, Macagtas, Mabolo, Molave, Narra, Sampaguita, Santol, Talisay, UEP (University of Eastern Philippine) Zone 1, UEP Zone 2, UEP Zone 3, and Yakal.
ECQ suspends all face-to-face classes in public and private schools, restricts work in offices, strictly implements stay-at-home policy, and limited operations of enterprises.
Businesses that are allowed to fully operate are hospitals; healthcare providers and frontline services; industries involved in farming, fishing, and forestry; and delivery and courier service providers. Government and private entities have been ordered to observe a skeleton workforce.
The operation of all types of public transport at the town center has been suspended for 15 days. Liquor ban will be strictly enforced and mass gathering is also prohibited.
Frontline workers, farmers, and fishermen are exempted from movement restrictions as long as they have no symptoms of Covid-19 and adhere to minimum health standards.
The local government has set up three entry and exit checkpoints to be manned by policemen, soldiers, health workers, and village officials.
On March 23, the Department of Health announced that the first Covid-19 patient in Eastern Visayas is from Catarman town – a 51-year-old woman who recently traveled to Japan and Metro Manila. The patient recovered after two weeks.
Catarman is a first-class town with a population of over 94,000. As of Oct. 13, Catarman has already recorded 110 confirmed Covid-19 cases including 55 recoveries and one death. (PNA)
