130,000 violated ECQ — IATF

Over 130,000 Filipinos have violated the guidelines of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, (ECQ), the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID) reported Tuesday.

Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles 130,177 quarantine violators were recorded, 30,366 of whom were arrested by law enforcers, citing the data from the Philippine National Police.

Meanwhile, 2,740 drivers of private vehicles have been apprehended by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for violating social distancing rules, he added.

The Palace official renewed his call to the public to follow the ECQ guidelines.

Under the guidelines, only those who have “essential” work are allowed to go out of their houses to reduce the spread of coronavirus infection.

One household member shall also be allowed to buy food, medicines and other essential products for his family.

“These are not trivial violations. Every time an individual violates ECQ guidelines, he or she chooses to become a health threat to those who abide by it,” he added.

Nograles said the government will strictly enforce the ECQ until 30 April to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

“These are measures that are being adopted in order to ensure that the irresponsible behavior of a few does not threaten the welfare of the majority who followed the ECQ, and the stringent social distancing guidelines enforced by the government,” he said.

“This pandemic has exacted a heavy toll on our country. Lives have been cut short, loved ones have been taken from us. Never in our lifetime have we faced a public health threat of this magnitude,” he added.