SAN Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo has ordered the temporary suspension of operations of all resorts and recreational parks in the city, thereby prohibiting the conduct of leisure activities due to rising coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, especially local transmission.

Gustilo, in an executive order (EO) issued on April 2, said it has been noted that there has been a surge of cases of local transmission in the city as evidenced by the increasing number of residents who tested positive for coronavirus.

Based on April 4 data of the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT), the number of active cases in San Carlos City reached 119, the highest in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City.

Also, San Carlos is the only locality in the province that has a triple-digit active Covid-19 cases, data showed.

In terms of total confirmed cases, the city logged a total of 700.

The mayor said the city, through the Emergency Operations Center for Covid-19, recognized the urgency to implement appropriate and immediate measures to curb the rising trend of cases that could eventually undermine the efforts to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.

"Among the most practical and proactive measures to reduce the risk of transmission [of the virus] is the prohibition of spontaneous crowding or mass gathering," he said.

San Carlos City is also home to white sand beaches and other tourist attractions. In fact, it is one of the major contributors of tourist arrivals in the province.

Under Section 1 of EO 22 Series of 2021, all public resorts and leisure parks must temporarily suspend their operations, thereby prohibiting the conduct or holding of events and activities considered non-essential.

The order also stated that recreational areas within the resorts should be closed to avoid the gathering of individuals and uncontrolled exposure due to the difficulty in maintaining the ideal social distancing.

Bookings and reservations should be canceled immediately within the period of the implementation of the order, it added.

Gustilo, in the EO, said the public is advised not to hold any events which are unnecessary or non-essential, thus avoid the possibility of uncontrolled or spontaneous crowding.

"All outdoor recreational or leisure activities are likewise prohibited as we aim to deter the increasing trend of local transmission in the city," he said, adding that "the public as clients or customers of resorts and parks must initiate the cancellation of their bookings and reservations in compliance to this order."

The EO is effective immediately unless revoked, the mayor also said.