Angeles City mayor asks IATF for MGCQ extension

ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin, Jr. said he has requested the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to extend the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) in the city.

This after the City Government recorded an increase in the number of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

Lazatin said he sent a letter to IATF asking for an extension of the MGCQ in the city from July 15 to 31.

"Dahil po dumadami pa active cases natin ngayon, ako po ay sumulat sa IATF na kung pwede ay i-extend pa po tayo kahit 15 days lamang," the local chief executive said.

Lazatin said he is awaiting for the decision of the IATF regarding his request and President Rodrigo Duterte himself will announce the status of the city after July 15.

"Iyan po ang hinihintay natin, sumulat na po tayo. Aanunsiyo rin po ng ating pangulo yan kapag nag meeting po sila kung ano po ang estado ng siyudad natin," the mayor said.

The local government has recorded its 34th Covid-19 patient who is working in Clark Freeport, according to Lazatin.

Of the 34 cases in the city, 25 patients have recovered and four died, the mayor disclosed.

The five active cases are from Barangays Pulung Maragul, Pampang, Margot, Santo Domingo and Sapang Bato, Lazatin added.

"Sa ngayon po ay 34 ang confirmed Covid-19 cases natin sa Siyudad ng Angeles at 25 naman po ang naka-recover at apat na ang namatay. May bago po tayo na nanggaling po sa Barangay Sapang Bato na nagtatrabaho din po ito sa loob ng Clark," the mayor said.

As of July 9, some 44 individuals are under quarantine at the City College of Angeles, Lazatin said.

"Kaya naman po ito dumadami ay dahil sa contact tracing na isinasagawa po natin sa siyudad ng Angeles. Yung pong mga close contacts [ng mga pasyente] ay kina-quarantine na po natin sila ngayon at yung mga LSIs (locally stranded individuals) na dumarating sa Angeles ay kino-quarantine po muna natin," the mayor said.