As the number of Coronavirus disease (Covid) cases is on the rise, Gov. Arthur Yap said he is not in favor of the idea of placing the province under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and instead favors localized lockdowns in the town and city levels.
This was the pronouncement of the governor during the weekly press conference at the Capitol on June 11, 2021.
The governor made the statement as the number of Covid cases in the province has been steadily increasing, based on the report released by the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF).
As of 8am, today, June 14, 2021, there are 1,256 active cases and a total of 3,859 recoveries with 64 Covid-related deaths, the BIATF told The Bohol Tribune in a text message.
The governor said that health experts already advised him to put the entire province under ECQ or a lockdown but he would rather go for “localized” lockdowns in identified local government units (LGU).
The governor narrowed down the surge in the cases to the localities of Antequera, Maribojoc, Cortes, Panglao, Sevilla, Calape, Catigbian, Dauis, Balilihan, and Tagbilaran City.
He asked the local chief executives of the said localities to coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in their respective areas for stricter implementation of the health and safety protocol in order to bring down the increasing number of Covid cases in the province.
He said he is not going to support any move to place the province under lockdown by declaring an ECQ.
The governor urged the barangay officials and the Barangay Health Workers to look out for those who are exhibiting symptoms related to Covid and to have these people tested and placed under quarantine if they turn out to be positive for the disease.
At the same time, the governor ordered the Provincial Health Office and the Department of Health to hasten their contact tracing efforts in order to contain those who are infected with the virus.