CEBU, Philippines — There are at least 12 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease in the Visayas as of Friday, March 27, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) announced yesterday.
No breakdown on the places was provided but among the 12 are four of 80 from the whole Visayas region tested yesterday. Seventy-six of the 80 tested negative, VSMMC said.
The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City is now a licensed subnational laboratory, which means results of COVID-19 tests here won't need to be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila for confirmation.
Stricter Border Control
Meanwhile, starting Monday, March 30, the Province of Cebu will close its borders to those coming from Cebu City. Those who are in Cebu Province will also no longer be allowed to leave, unless they are among the individuals exempted from the rule.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced yesterday that trips from Cebu City to any city and municipality under the province will be prohibited by 12:01 a.m. on March 30. In the same way, trips from any of the province's towns and cities to Cebu City will no longer be allowed.
“Ako nakadesider isip gobernador, tungod sa padayon sa pagsaka sa mga kaso, either positibo or presumptive positive dinhi sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo… sugod Lunes, alas dose punto uno, dili na nato tugtan ang pagsulod pa sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo gikan sa uban nga Dakbayan ug Lungsod sa Lalawigan sa Sugbo. Dili na usab nato tugtan ang paggawas sa kadtong nagagikan sa [Dakbayan sa] Sugbo (As governor, I have decided that because of the rising number of positive or presumptive positive cases in Cebu City, beginning 12:01 a.m. on Monday, we will no longer allow those from Cebu City to enter the province. We will also no longer allow those in the province to go out)," Garcia said.
"Let me qualify that, Sugod sa Lunes, kadtong buot moanhi sulod sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo, kinahanglan anhi na moister (Let me qualify that. Starting Monday, those who would want to enter the province will have to stay here)," she added.
She said Cebu City Government has agreed to exempt from its enhanced community quarantine rules the trips of those leaving the city until March 30.
"Dili na unta tugtan ang tanan nga public transportation apan nangayo ta og exemption sa Cebu City nga i-exempt ang mga buses and minibuses ug ang uban nga modes of public transport nga maoy sakyan sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga mobalik niadto sa ilang mga lungsod ug dakbayan (All modes of transportation are supposed to be suspended but we asked the city to exempt the buses and minibuses, and other modes of public transport, that will bring our residents to their towns and cities in the province)," Garcia said.
Vehicles with clear routes to the north, south, and Midwestern areas of the province must get passes from the Capitol. These passes will be valid until March 30.
Medical frontliners and those delivering essential services are exempt from this restriction.
"If it is not an essential and if it is not a medical trip or reason, then dili na na pwede," she said.
The delivery of cargo will remain unhampered. Additional guidelines, however, will be outlined in an executive order.
For deliveries, only one truck driver and one delivery assistant will be allowed. They will be prohibited from taking unnecessary stops.
Other Exemptions
Even as Cebu Province will be on enhanced community quarantine starting March 30, Monday, several industries will continue to operate.
“Ang exempted, as usual, atong groceries, supermarkets. Daghan pa, sama sa atong mga nag render og medical services, ang kana sad funeral services, empleyado ug immediate family of the deceased ug ang officiation priest,” Garcia told reports.
During the enhanced community quarantine, no one will be allowed to go outside their houses, but each household will be given one quarantine pass that will be used for a member of the family to buy goods and basic necessities outside.
lso exempted are the emergency responders, and those working on security services, banks, money transfer services, vendors of markets, pharmacies and drug store, food chains, restaurants, eateries but “no dine-in policy” will be imposed.
The exemption will also cover those delivering cargo and essential products like food; essential and hygiene products like soap, detergent, diapers, feminine hygiene products, tissues, wipes, toilet, papers, disinfectants, medicines and vitamins, and also medical products like Personal Protective Equipment such as masks and gloves.
Also exempted are those in logistics/ warehouse establishment, delivery services personnel of foods, medicine and other basic necessities, telecommunications, energy companies, water companies and sanitation.
Garcia said, skeletal force of local government units is authorized to move including government officials, media, agribusiness, and agricultural workers who are important for the food supply chain.
Those who are Business Processing Outsourcing and Export-Oriented Business Personnel including those in the Ecozone, as well as construction workers, are also exempted.
“So I shall be issuing an executive order outlining the guidelines in the implementation of further restriction within the province of Cebu and all of these will be effective as I said at 12:01 of the 30th of March that would on Monday” Garcia said.
During the enhanced community quarantine, there will no public transportation – from taxis, motorcycles, v-hires, jeepneys, and tricycles.
“I told them that is non-negotiable. Wala na gyud tricycle kay gidili gyud na. You could convert those tricycles to make them delivery vehicles,” Garcia said.
Those exempt must present their ID at checkpoints for them to pass through.
One quarantine pass will be given to each household and this will only be applicable on the respective town or cities. JMO (FREEMAN)
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