DUE to the noted spike in COVID- 19 cases in the town, the local government of Anda ordered the town to be placed under the 14-day Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) starting Wednesday, Oct. 14.

But Dr. Anna de Guzman, provincial health officer, said such a declaration needs approval of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Mayor Joganie Rarang on Tuesday, signed Executive Order No. 107 that placed the town under MECQ to contain the spread of the virus.

Anda, with 18 barangays, had seven active COVID-19 cases confined in an isolation facilities or hospitals as of Oct. 15. One had died and two had recovered from this virus infection.

In a Facebook comment, the LGU said the declaration of stricter community quarantine is to prevent people from outside the town and local residents from doing unimportant activities.

“Fishing and farming are not prohibited, we will just be limiting people from entering and going outside the town with unimportant businesses,” the post said.

De Guzman said the town or city IATF can do declarations only if it involves one or more barangays under granular lockdown ”but not the whole town or city”.

She added that there are some mayors who possibly overlook this.

MECQ guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases state that residents should strictly stay at home while limited outdoor exercises like walking, jogging, running and biking is allowed provided that safety protocols will be observed such as proper wearing of face masks, face shields and the 2-meter physical distancing.

As of this writing, this town has recorded eight COVID-19 active cases.

The latest patient COVID-19 patient is a 23-year-old woman presently under the care of the local government in the town’s isolation facility. She and other patients are reportedly recovering. (Jerick Pasilaio/ PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)

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