Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) — Coronavirus infections in Passi, Iloilo have breached 100, prompting local officials to place the city under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ until February 11.
In a social media post, the local government of Passi said Mayor Stephen Palmares announced the decision Wednesday evening after a meeting with the local task force against COVID-19.
“Initially, we have received information that the confirmed COVID-19 positive as of 2:30 in the afternoon today is 84 and just this evening it reached more than 100,” Palmares said. “This is the highest recorded confirmed COVID-19 case in the city in a single day.”
The local chief executive explained the surge was due to the continuous mass testing being conducted in the city. On January 26 alone, more than 600 public market vendors underwent swab testing.
Establishments and services that are only allowed to operate are those that provide food, water, transportation, power, energy, and other necessities. However, restaurants, fast food chains, and food stalls cannot operate for the meantime.
Markets are also allowed to open every day, but scheduled market day on Mondays is suspended.
Medical facilities like hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and laboratories, pharmacies, and drug stores may also operate.
Also permitted to continue operations are factories engaged in manufacturing, processing, and storage of basic food and health needs, banks, pawnshop, money transfer services, and payment and remittance centers.
Curfew hours from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. and a liquor ban will be implemented
The city will also allow people to only pass through, specifically those coming from Iloilo City, and the provinces of Guimaras, Antique, Aklan and Capiz.
Checkpoints are also deployed across the area, and only city residents will be allowed to enter as long as they are able to present an ID.
Based on latest data from the Department of Health, total COVID-19 cases in Iloilo province are now at 3,850, with 297 active cases, 3,451 recoveries, and 102 deaths.
