MAYOR Oscar Moreno has placed Cagayan de Oro City under community quarantine as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Misamis Oriental and the municipalities of Manolo Fortich, Malitbog, Libona, Baungon and Talakag in Bukidnon are also included in the community quarantine.
The local chief executives and officials of the said municipalities and province are expected to meet today or anytime this week to craft a harmonized and well-coordinated operational guidelines for the community quarantine.
Moreno said Misamis Oriental, and other nearby Bukidnon towns should unite since they are inextricably intertwined.
The decision to declare a community quarantine was decided following the death of two females diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) on Wednesday, March 18.
The two SARI patients were admitted at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro, however, they are not residents of the city.
“In the circumstances, I have concluded nga kinahanglan na gyud ang community quarantine (I have concluded that community quarantine is needed),” Moreno said.
Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano and Cagayan de Oro City Second District Representative Rufus Rodriguez, for their part, supported the city mayor’s decision to put the city and the province under community quarantine.
“I will work with the City Government in whatever capacity and whatever help they need, the Provincial Government will be there to help them,” Emano said.
Rodriguez, for his part, said that community quarantine is a concrete way to help lessen the spread of coronavirus.
“With this huge crisis that we are all facing, be assured that as your congressman, I’m doing everything and constantly coordinating with our local and national leaders to be able to help and address the concerns of our people and community,” Rodriguez said.
In the Executive Order signed on Thursday, March 19, the movement of all persons within its territorial jurisdiction shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work from midnight until further notice.
Everybody in Cagayan de Oro City is also “strongly” directed to restrict his or her movements and remain in his or her residence, especially persons who are at high risk of being infected by Covid-19 such as those 60 years old and above, those with health conditions, those who are immunocompromised or with co-comorbidities, and pregnant women.
Public swimming pools, bars, schools, gyms, basketball courts, badminton courts and other similar establishments will also be closed starting March 20.
City Hall will remain open and continue its operations but access to people’s concerns shall be limited.
The JR Borja General Hospital, City Health Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Roads and Traffic Administration, City Social Welfare Office, and other frontline offices shall continue to operate and maintain full deployment of personnel.