Iloilo City considers stricter quarantine status
If COVID-19 cases in Iloilo City continue to increase, the Iloilo City Government considers placing the city under the stricter quarantine status of general community quarantine (GCQ) [1]. The city is currently under modified general community quarantine, the most lenient among the types of quarantine in the country. Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City might appeal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for a quarantine update as the city has seen a huge rise in local transmission. The data gathered by the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) shows 112 positive cases from April 1 to 9, 16.26 percent higher than the cases logged last month.
The mayor also asked for the cooperation of government agencies and instrumentalities to adopt work arrangements such as work-from-home, flexible work hours, and the like to keep more people from going out. Meanwhile, bars, clubs, theaters, and other entertainment establishments are not allowed to operate.
Strict quarantine and restriction on religious gatherings imposed in Boracay
Boracay Island is also facing stricter quarantine in some areas due to the rising cases of COVID-19 on the island. Last April 1, Acting Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista put the central part of Boracay, Barangay Balabag, under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). He also placed zones one to seven near Barangay Manocmanoc under granular lockdown.
Meanwhile, religious gatherings in Boracay Island are restricted except in Barangay Yapak, where the chapel can only accommodate 30 percent of its total seating capacity. Despite this, the mayor allowed essential gatherings such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals but with only a maximum of 15 persons in attendance [2].