TO REDUCE the number of Covid-19 cases and the rate of its transmission, City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago urged Fernandinos to stay at home following additional quarantine restrictions to be implemented in the city for the Holy Week.

During his emergency meeting with the members of the Incident Management Team on Sunday, March 28, Santiago underscored the importance of limited movement within San Fernando to slow down Covid infection.

"Our objective today is to declare urgency because our situation now is worse than last year. Our hospital beds and isolation facility are almost full. Hindi natin kakayanin kung magco-collapse ang healthcare system natin, so we have to enforce additional restrictions and stricter health protocols," Santiago said.

Some of Santiago's suggestions include the prohibition of mass gatherings, dining in food establishments, leisure travels inside and outside the city, and the implementation of localized lockdown in barangays or places with high cases of Covid.

The IMT is now reviewing Santiago's suggestions to be included in the executive order for updated modified general community quarantine guidelines of San Fernando.

Joining Santiago were Dr. Alvin Penafiel, GreenCity Medical Center Pulmonary Doctor; Dr. Carlos Mercado, City Health Officer-in-charge; Engineer Michael Quizon Jr., Emergency Operations coordinator; Police Lieutenant Colonel John L. Clark, CSF chief-of-police; Dr. Benjamin Angeles, barangay representative; and members of the IMT. (PR)