Tight watch on 3 Catbalogan villages

Since March when the pandemic began, 35 out of 57 villages have already recorded at least one coronavirus case

The local government of Catbalogan City in Samar are keeping three villages under tight watch due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Mercedes, Canlapwas and Maulong will be under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until 5 October, according to Mayor Dexter Uy’s Executive Order 09-001 signed Sunday.

The three communities, along with 19 other villages, were placed under ECQ on 5 to 20 September.

“Those three are the areas with still high numbers of active COVID-19 cases, in double digits, while the rest now have less than 10 active cases. The three villages will remain as critical zones based on the zoning containment strategy of the city,” Uy said.

Strict home quarantine will be observed in all households, except when availing of essential goods and services. Residences of confirmed patients, as well as houses of direct contacts, are also considered critical zones and must follow ECQ guidelines.

The city government will also enforce a 24/7 curfew and liquor ban in the three villages. All social and religious gatherings, including outdoor exercises, are still banned.

Establishments will be monitored to ensure full compliance with health protocols, such as availability of handwashing area and footbath at entrances, use of thermal scanners, installation of physical barriers, appropriate markings to encourage safe physical distancing and digital quarantine pass scanner.

Stores are also encouraged to adopt cashless transactions.

Since March when the pandemic began, 35 out of 57 villages have already recorded at least one coronavirus case. The city has 581 total cases, including 442 recoveries and three deaths. All villages outside the critical zone are now under general community quarantine.