Albay extends GCQ status until June 30

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

Governor Al Francis Bichara has ordered the extension of the general community quarantine (GCQ) status from June 16 to 30 to prevent the further escalation of Covid-19 cases in the province of Albay.

Bichara directed officials of local government units (LGUs) across the province to enforce stricter measures in a bid to curtail the continuous spike of coronavirus cases since last month.

The Albay governor issued Executive Order (EO) No. 17 series of 2021 on Tuesday, June 15, extending the GCQ status in Albay’s three cities and 13 towns except in the towns of Jovellar and Rapu-Rapu until June 30.

“All the cities and municipalities shall observe and strictly follow the protocols under the latest omnibus guidelines and resolutions issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases corresponding to the declared community quarantine category,” Bichara said.

He warned that those who do not comply with the directive will be dealt with appropriate sanctions.

“Failure to comply with the said directive shall be a ground for the filing of appropriate cases pursuant to Republic Act No. 11332 and other pertinent laws applicable,” Bichara said.

Last month, Bichara placed the town of Daraga and Legazpi under GCQ. Two days after he issued another EO placing the cities Ligao and Tabaco including the 13 towns in Albay under GCQ due to rising Covid-19 cases.

The provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon have the highest cases of Covid-19 infections based on the Department of Health (DOH) report.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal admitted that Legazpi is now classified as a high-risk area. Among the seven cities of Bicol, Naga City was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine from June 16 to June 30.

The rest of Bicol region is under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) while the province of Albay is under GCQ.

The members of the Interagency Task Force (IATF) in Bicol convened on June 15 to discuss the increasing Covid-29 infections across the region, which cases are higher compared to last year.

From March 27, 2020 to June 14, 2021, the DOH Bicol recorded some 15,155 Covid-19 cases with 5,105 active cases and 488 deaths.