MECQ in Tuguegarao extended anew

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Tuguegarao City in Cagayan will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for another eight days.

The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 approved the recommendation of the city government for an extension of the stricter quarantine status starting yesterday until the end of the month.

In an executive order, Mayor Jefferson Soriano cited the ”fluctuating number” of COVID cases in the city in the past five days.

”As per assessment of our Tuguegarao City COVID-19 task force, the current situation in the city warrants the extension of the MECQ in the entire city for a few more days,” the order stated.

The city has been under MECQ since Sept. 12.

Tuguegarao logged 42 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the active infections to 968.

The Department of Health (DOH)-Cagayan Valley office said Tuguegarao recorded the highest number of COVID cases in the region. Isabela’s Cauayan City recorded 602 while Santiago City logged 397.

Amulung in Cagayan recorded 330 active cases; Bambang in Nueva Vizcaya, 288; Baggao in Cagayan, 280; Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya, 264; Sta. Ana in Cagayan, 251; Aparri in Cagayan, 243, and Ramon in Isabela, 243.

The towns of Divilacan and Quirino in Isabela; Aritao, Diadi, Dupax del Norte and Bambang in Nueva Vizcaya; Allacapan in Cagayan as well as Basco in Batanes were classified by the DOH at critical risk for COVID cases.