20 barangays in Iloilo City under lockdown due to spike in COVID-19 cases

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 26) — Twenty barangays in Iloilo City are placed under lockdown due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, as the city extends its modified enhanced community quarantine status for 15 more days.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas told CNN Philippines on Saturday that there are almost 600 active COVID-19 cases in the city as of Friday.

Early on Friday, the city was advised by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ATF) to ease to a general community quarantine, but the report of a high number of cases forced authorities to change their mind.

Six barangays were initially placed under lockdown on Friday until Monday, 5:59 p.m., but Treñas confirmed that the list now includes 20 barangays.

“Lahat ng naka-lockdown na barangay (all the barangays that are under lockdown), there are about 20 of them now,” he said.

Treñas reiterated that residents are not allowed to go outside of their homes in these barangays except for essential workers, including medical frontliners and those working at city hall.

“Lahat ng barangay na lockdown, may mga PNP tayo tsaka army na andoon aside from the barangay officials and the barangay tanods, making sure na walang lalabas sa mga locked down barangays.”

[Translation: In all the barangays that are under lockdown, there are PNP and army there, aside from barangay officials and the barangay tanods to make sure that no one is going out.]

Iloilo City will remain under MECQ until October 9.