Cebu City Village Retains ECQ Status

While the city was downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ), Barangay Luz here retained its village-level enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to a high number of active coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

The Barangay Council of Luz said in a statement posted on its social media page that it gave credence to the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH)-Central Visayas to place villages with active coronavirus cases and high prevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and mixed IgM+IgG as red zone areas.

According to DOH guidelines, red zone areas are classified under ECQ risk classification.

Earlier, the DOH-7 recommended the retention of the ECQ status to eight barangays in this city due to a high number of Covid-19 cases.

Apart from Luz, the other barangays are Carreta, Sawang Calero, Bacayan, Mambaling, Labangon, Tejero and Suba.

However, the officials in these villages are yet to issue advisories if they will continue to remain under ECQ.

According to the DOH-7, barangays with 50 and above Covid-19 cases and 5.0 percent IgM+, mixed IgM+ and IgG+ prevalence should be classified under ECQ.

Because of its continuing ECQ measures, village officials of Luz said they will maintain strict border controls in major streets around the area.

“Magpabilin ang pagsira sa mga major streets sa atong barangay until further notice. Ang mga koral o borders sa mga eskinita sulod sa atong barangay mao ray pwede libkasun” (Major streets in the barangay will remain closed until further notice. The blockade or borders placed along corners will be the one to be opened),” the advisory from Barangay Luz said.

The village will continue to implement curfew starting at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Front-liners from the Cebu City Health Department, Philippine National Police and the barangay will still be on standby at the major streets except in the interior alleys, the advisory added.

No barangay certification will be released for workers until the ECQ is lifted. Issuance of clearances for locally stranded individuals (LSI) is likewise put on hold.

On May 29, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease issued Resolution No. 41 placing Cebu City under GCQ but with a directive to identify those villages with active Covid-19 cases.

Last week, DOH-7 Regional Director Jaime Bernadas presented the proposed guidelines for the local government units in Central Visayas in placing their villages under sequential lock down based on the number of active coronavirus cases and antibody prevalence among the populace. (PNA)