23 Northern Samar villages placed under ECQ due to surge in COVID-19 cases

TACLOBAN CITY — Following the spike of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the capital town of Northern Samar, the municipal inter-agency task force (MIATF) of Catarman has placed 23 of its 55 villages on lockdown from October 15 to 30.

Based on the resolution passed by the MIATF, the following 23 Poblacion barangays will be placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ): Acacia, Airport Village, Bangkerohan, Baybay, Calachuchi, Cawayan, Casoy, Dalakit, Ipil-Ipil, Jose Abad Santos, Jose P. Rizal, Lapu-Lapu, Macagtas, Mabolo, Molave, Narra, Sampaguita, Santol, Talisay, UEP Zone 1, UEP Zone 2, UEP Zone 3, and Yakal.

A 24-hour curfew and liquor ban will be implemented in the said areas where mass/public transportation was also suspended. Face-to-face classes in all schools are suspended, while work from home arrangements in public and private offices are enforced except for frontline services on skeleton force.

All establishments are allowed to operate only up to 8 p.m. except for hospitals and birthing facilities, pharmacies and drugstores, and gasoline stations.

“All establishments not mentioned including ambulant vendors must temporarily cease operation,” the MIATF said.

Only one person per household with a quarantine pass will be allowed to purchase food and other essentials.

As of Wednesday, October 14, Catarman has 50 active COVID-19 cases with one death.

Eastern Visayas has a total of 5,556 COVID-19 cases with 63 fresh cases logged and 54 deaths.