La Union towns under ECQ amid COVID-19 surge

The municipality of Caba in La Union was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from July 21 to July 25 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

San Fernando City was also placed under ECQ from July 21 to July 31 following a request from Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III and approved by the provincial government.

As of July 20, San Fernando City had 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 5 hospitalized, 8 in isolation, 1 in strict home quarantine, 4 recovered, and 2 deaths.

A 67-year-old male from Barangay San Agustin in San Fernando City, who died on July 19, was among the new cases confirmed on Monday.

Specific barangays in San Fernando City, including San Agustin, Tanqui, Canaoay, and Lingsat, were placed under heightened community quarantine (HCQ) to ensure containment.

As of July 20, the province of La Union had a total of 57 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Police Regional Office 1 Director Police Brigadier General Rodolfo S Azurin Jr. ordered the strict implementation of ECQ protocols in San Fernando City, including enforcement of social distancing, face masks, and curfew hours.

La Union policemen will assist in contact tracing and manning checkpoints, with police presence expected to be stricter amid rising COVID-19 cases.

Quarantine checkpoints have been set up in all entry and exit points of San Fernando City, and business establishments were given reinforced ECQ guidelines.