Zamboanga City placed under MECQ due to COVID-19 surge

Zamboanga City has been placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from May 8 to May 14 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The decision was made by the National Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases (NIATF-EID) upon the recommendation of health experts to control the spread of the virus.

As of May 7, the city recorded 1,994 active cases, with 96 percent being community-transmitted, and a total of 272 deaths.

Under MECQ, establishments providing basic necessities will remain open, and movement will be limited to essential goods, services, and work.

The city will implement an RT-PCR entry requirement, maintain government offices on a skeleton workforce, and suspend public and private gatherings.

Religious gatherings are allowed up to 10 percent of venue capacity, and a curfew will be imposed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily.

Violators of health protocols and Executive Order 656-2021 will face fines and penalties.