Ilocos Norte places 21 LGUs under localized ECQ

Ilocos Norte has placed twenty-one out of twenty-three towns and cities under localized enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 16 to August 31 due to rising COVID-19 cases.

As of Friday, the province recorded 566 new infections, bringing active cases to 4,295 with a total of 11,675 cases since the start of the pandemic.

Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc initially requested the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to reclassify Ilocos Norte to tight ECQ but settled for localized ECQ instead.

On Friday, August 13, the province logged an additional 161 new cases, raising active cases to 3,923 and confirmed seven Delta variant cases in seven towns, though specific locations were not disclosed.