DINALUPIHAN, Bataan – Gov. Albert Garcia has asked for the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in the province until May 31, 2020.
The governor, chair of the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force, made the request in a letter to Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government who is also chair of the national IATF.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque had announced the inclusion of Bataan among provinces under the general community quarantine from its former ECQ status.
Garcia said the extension will give way to a province-wide mass testing, contact tracing, and the treatment of patients still afflicted with the coronavirus disease.
As of Tuesday report, Bataan has 111 confirmed Covid–19 cases with 42 recoveries from the virus and five deaths
The Bataan Mayor’s League earlier decided to recommend that a province-wide mass testing for Covid–19 be undertaken prior to the lifting of the ECQon May 16.
League president Mayor Maria Angela “Gila” Garcia of Dinalupihan said the recommendation was arrived at a Zoom video conference among the governor, Representatives Geraldine Roman and Jose Enrique Garcia III, the mayors, health officials, and the police held Monday night to discuss the issues and concerns over the lifting or extension of ECQ.
“Isa sa mga gusto ng grupo, magkaroon muna ng availability ng mass testing kasi ang sabi ni governor, ang kalaban na Covid–19 ay hindi nakikita at kung hindi nakikita, kailangan ma–determine kung nasaan ito, the mayor said. “Sana makapag-establish muna ng mass testing para makita yong liit o laki ng Covid–19 issue and concerns bago ma-lift ang ECQ para sa gayon protektado, mas maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan.”
