PAMPANGA Governor Dennis Pineda said Friday, July 30, that Capitol is issuing Executive Order 17 to curb the rising cases of Covid-19 in the province and to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
In the announcement made through the Facebook page of the Pampanga Provincial Information Office, Pineda said there is an urgent need to impose heightened restrictions as Covid-19 cases have been noted by Capitol and concerned agencies to be on the uptrend.
"From July 16 to July 29, we have 1,306 cases. Mortality is at 73. During the first wave from March 2020 to June 2020, cases were at 130 and mortalities of 7 (average of one positive per day). During the second wave from March 2021 to June 2021 with average infections of 118 persons per day, cases were 14,238 and mortalities at 490. Now, we have 100 cases per day on just a 13-day period. Our total cases are 27,058 and recovery is 23,989. Active cases is at 1,934. Total mortalities is 1,135," he said, adding that "the age range of those infected is between 21-30 and 31 to 40, probably workers, which we could not restrict because they are out for their livelihood and helping in economic recovery."
Pineda stressed that cases right now are rising because of the Delta variant.
"As of now, we have four confirmed cases in Pampanga. The one from Mexico town, actually inalis na sa atin dahil ng lumuwas ng Manila yan, June 20, nag-positive siya ng June 27. Pina contact tracing na namin ang lahat ng family at negative naman. Malaki ang posibilidad na sa Manila siya nahawa. And the rest, OFWs but they underwent the proper quarantine period," he said.
Difficult to determine
"But it is difficult to determine right now because testing for Delta variant is from 21 to 30 days. If we wait for the results, tapos na ang quarantine period ng nag-positive. Nagtataka tayo sa mga kasong dumadating sa probinsiya, bakit pamilya pamilya ang tinatamaan. Bakit pati mga bata age of 3, 8, 17 18 years old tinatamaan at nagkakaroon ng pneumonia. In the past, we did not encounter this," he said.
"Pinipilit ko na ma-test lahat. Kinakausap ko ang mga national agencies to make sure na makapag-sampling kaagad," he added.
Tightening the curbs
"Right now, with the average cases, mabigat na po para sa hospitals natin. We decided yesterday with all mayors of Pampanga, including mayors from Angeles City, San Fernando and Mabalacat, kailangan nating maghigpit sa probinsiya. You heard the announcement of Secretary Roque that NCR will be placed under ECQ starting August 6, which means people from Metro Manila, those who can, will start leaving because some neighboring provinces are under MGCQ. So we are coming out with an executive order covering the period August 2 to 15. Makikipag-unahan na po ako sa Metro Manila na maghihigpit," Pineda said.
Pampanga is currently under MGCQ with heightened restrictions.
Now, under Executive Order 17, the following are the restrictions: strict compliance to protocols, only 18-60 years old are allowed to go out, the rest must stay at home and avoid gatherings, and curfew is from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
"I wish to clarify that the curfew exempts workers and vendors na pwedeng lumabas at maghanapbuhay. The province cannot afford to be on ECQ dahil babagsak ang ekonomiya natin at mahihirapan ang mga pamilya natin," he said.
Social gatherings allowed like those in resorts, function hall, covered courts, among others, must have the necessary permits from mayors.
Residential gatherings are confined to family members only.
For wakes, two nights and three days only with 50 percent wake venue capacity and not during curfew hours, as requested by mayors.
Liquor ban will take effect from August 2 to 15.
Checkpoints, border controls up
"Effective immediately, the police will be in place with checkpoints at borders, as well as barangay checkpoints. All those coming from Metro Manila will be required to submit RT-PCR and antigen tests in a period of 48 hours. Humihingi po ako ng dispensa sa mga taga ibang lugar dahil kung NCR hinigpitan na kayo, nag-iiwas din po kami na tumaas ang cases namin," the governor said.
"For restaurants, dine-in allowable capacity is 30 percent. Al Fresco is 50 percent capacity. Nakikiusap din po ako sa mga restaurant natin na kung pwedeng take-out na muna. All hotels in Pampanga including Angeles City must require customers to submit RT-PCR tests. Public market operations is upon the discretion of the mayors," Pineda added.
'We can hurdle this'
"Mabigat po ang dating ng variant na ito. Like in Metro Manila, hindi po malayong mangyari sa atin sa Pampanga kaya kailangan nating agapan. We've seen this before. Maaga na ating nakita ngayon ang pagtaas ng cases. Kailangan nating maghigpit. Kailangan ko po ng tulong niyo. The future of Kapampangans depends on us all. Kakayanin po natin ito kung magkakaisa tayo," he said. (JTD)