THE temporary moratorium on locally stranded individuals (LSIs) will likely continue to be in effect despite the decrease in the number of active coronavirus cases in Zamboanga City.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar expressed reservations but declared that the lifting of suspension will depend on the consensus among the different local government units in the region.

“This remains under the concerted synchronized effort of the city government of Zamboanga and the different local government units in the Zamboanga-Basulta (Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) areas,” Salazar said.

The moratorium was issued based on a resolution approved by the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force in October 2020.

The freeze was imposed due to the continued closure of neighboring borders on top of limited quarantine facilities to accommodate incoming LSIs.

While Salazar considers the drop in the number of active cases a positive development, the city should not drop its guards down.

“There are improvements. These efforts are really God sent and they are little celebrations, but this doesn’t mean that we are free from Covid. Our quarantine facilities remain full and we are still in need of an isolation facility with a 1,000-person capacity,” she said.

Based on the Zamboanga Task Force Covid-19 Data Tracker, active cases for this city totaled 198, with 2,938 recoveries and 140 mortalities, as of November 24. The total number of coronavirus-infected patients is 3,276. (SunStar Zamboanga)