LOCKDOWN. Local police enforce quarantine measures in a village in Maasin City under lockdown in this undated photo. The city government here on Thursday (Oct. 15, 2020) placed five villages under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019. (Photo courtesy of Maasin City government)
TACLOBAN CITY – Five villages in Maasin City, Southern Leyte have been placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), shutting down a police station, government office, school, and major shops due to the rising threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Mayor Nacional Mercado signed late Thursday Executive Order No 53 to restrict the movement in the villages of Combado, Tagnipa, Tunga-tunga, Mantahan, and Asuncion effective 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 until it is lifted.
Residents living inside the identified critical zone are required to stay-at-home for their safety and a 24-hour restriction of movements is imposed on them except during emergencies.
“Cooperation is very important in these areas that are placed under granular lockdown. If residents will not cooperate, the problem will worsen and lockdown may be extended,” Mercado said in a statement.
Among the affected areas by the lockdown is the Maasin City police station in Combado village, where six policemen tested positive for Covid-19 and the Metro Hi-Per Maasin in Tagnipa village, where 11 employees got infected.
The local government has ordered establishments within the critical zone to close while their community is still under ECQ.
Also closed due to the lockdown is the Maasin branch of the Government Service Insurance System in Mantahan village, and Southern Leyte State University in Tunga-tunga village.
Village officials and the city task force are ordered to ensure that all individuals in every affected household are provided with and have access to essential goods, and basic services.
The delivery of essential goods is only allowed at the point of entry and can only be picked up by village officials.
Some 488 families in these five villages affected by restrictions will be regularly provided with food assistance.
Residents are not allowed to leave their respective houses except for emergency cases, and those who are identified as front liners, medical and health workers, pharmacists, uniformed government personnel, force multipliers, authorized government officials, village officials, and members of the inter-agency task force.
Nearby communities in these five villages have been placed under modified ECQ, general community quarantine (GCQ), and modified GCQ.
As of October 15, Maasin City has 109 confirmed cases with 69 active cases and 40 recoveries. (PNA)
