THE Provincial Government of Guimaras has extended the operating hours of businesses in the province.

Acting Governor John Edward Gando issued Executive Order 29, series of 2021, extending operating hours for businesses from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. effective July 1, 2021.

However, establishments engage in face-to-face, one-on-one and long exposure to their clients and those that are engage in leisure activities are still not allowed to open.

Dine-in services in food establishments in the province are still prohibited.

Meanwhile, pharmacies may open from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Hospital and funeral parlors are exempted in the foregoing business hour restrictions.

Despite Guimaras being considered by the Department of Health as "high risk" in terms of Covid-19 transmission, the Guimaras Covid-19 Response Executive Committee has decided to loosen some implemented protocols to soften the impact of the restrictions.

The Province of Guimaras has 947 confirmed cases of Covid-19 as of June 28, 2021, where 140 are still active, 781 have recovered, and 26 have died. (PR)