The local government of Tuguegarao City has imposed a 10-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in a bid to put a halt to the rising coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.

The latest case bulletin released on Tuesday showed 724 active infections from 500 a week ago.

Mayor Jefferson Soriano, in a virtual news briefing on Wednesday, said the ECQ will be in effect from Aug. 12 to 21.

He said the imposition was approved by the regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) with the condition that the ECQ status would be extended for seven days if the Covid-19 situation warrants it.

“We have to solve the situation so we cannot do anything than impose again a stricter quarantine,” the mayor said, whose city has been under the general community quarantine (GCQ) before it reverts to ECQ starting on Thursday.

Tuguegarao has logged 8,843 cumulative cases, 7,959 recoveries and 160 deaths since the pandemic started.

Of the 724 currently active infections, 64 are healthcare workers, the mayor said, as he noted that an average daily attack rate of 31.80 percent was registered in the city, the highest in the region.

Soriano said starting on Thursday, there would be no public transportation around the city, and they would again ban mass gatherings and the selling of liquor. There would also be a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Wet markets and groceries would be open, he added, but restaurants could only operate for take-out and delivery.