Governor Albert Garcia announced on Wednesday that the province would be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), while the town of Mariveles would be under ECQ with heightened restrictions.

Mariveles, home of the Freeport Area of Bataan, is considered the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the province, where there are thousands of workers.

For the past weeks, it has registered the highest daily number of new confirmed cases of Covid- 19 among the localities in Bataan.

Garcia said the decision was unanimously approved during Tuesday’s meeting of the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and mayors in the 11 towns and one city of the province.

He said they were waiting for the approval of the national IATF when the new community quarantine status would start. This province is currently under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

“Gamitin ang panahong nalalabi sa paghahanda para sa ECQ ngunit pinaaalalahanan lamang ang lahat na huwag mag-panic buying dahil bukas naman ang mga palengke at supermarket para sa mga essential needs (Let us use the remaining time for preparation for ECQ but we remind all not to resort to panic-buying because the markets and supermarkets are open for essential needs),” the governor said in an official social media post.

He also said the Covid-19 vaccination will continue at the designated venues.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported that Bataan has 1,981 active coronavirus cases as of Aug. 2.

Mariveles has the highest number with 1,149; followed by Balanga City with 217; Limay, 173; Dinalupihan, 123; Orion, 99; Orani, 75; Abucay, 49; Bagac, 32; Hermosa, 31; Samal, 26; Pilar, 25; and Morong, 18.

There are 18 Delta variant cases listed among the current patients.

The province, since last year, has logged a total of 14,233 Covid-19 cases with 11,756 recoveries and 496 deaths.