CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela – The city government here has imposed a 14-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), locking down its 91 barangays except for those exempted under the Inter-Agency Task Force guidelines from Oct. 16-30.
Mayor Josemarie Diaz, who led the city's emergency inter-agency meeting at the Ilagan Community Center on Friday, said the "stricter" control status was implemented as the 10-day modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) which lapsed Oct. 16 was not enough to stop the rising cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
IATF officials in the city have reported that "there has been a surge of Covid-19 cases in the City of Ilagan in the past 10 days, which is alarming considering the magnitude of the primary, secondary and tertiary contacts".
Confirmed Covid-19 cases have ballooned to 331 in this city, of which 214 are on active status. A total of 74 cases were reported in just three days, health officials said.
The Ilagan city government has also set October 18 as a citywide day of prayer to beseech God's protection against Covid-19.
"As we continue to face the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of Ilaguenos are unable to gather in their churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship and seek for divine providence for protection, healing and strength to overcome these trying times," the mayor said.
He called for unity in seeking "God's healing hand for those infected of Covid-19, especially those on the front lines". (PNA)
