SOME areas or households in each of the 21 barangays of the town of Oslob in southern Cebu have been placed on granular lockdown since August 17, 2021 because of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
No one is allowed to enter or exit these areas for 14 to 21 days, depending on the recommendation and assessment of the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force (MIATF).
"All residents, including their close contacts, should be on a strict home quarantine,” Oslob Mayor Jose Tumulak Jr. said in his Executive Order 2021-08 that was issued on August 16.
The lockdown is aimed at limiting the movement of people and preventing the further spread of the virus that causes Covid-19. Local government officials may place a household, purok, sitio, or an entire barangay under lockdown depending on the number of Covid-19 cases that are confirmed.
The only persons allowed to move about the affected areas are members of the MIATF, authorized municipal and barangay officials and personnel, contact tracing personnel, and workers of the Rural Health Unit, Department of Health, Philippine National Police, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, as well as those assigned in the distribution of goods.
"Refrain from unnecessary travel until the granular lockdown is lifted," Tumulak told the residents.
As of August 20, Oslob has recorded 153 active Covid-19 cases out of a total of 390 infections, with 219 recoveries and 18 deaths.
Restrictions
All forms of transportation, both public and private, including the unauthorized movement of persons within the area under granular lockdown, are restricted.
But Tumulak assured the residents that the Municipal Government and the barangays will provide essentials, such as food and medical supplies, should the need arises.
Commercial and business establishments in areas under granular lockdown are also not allowed to operate.
Tumulak directed the police, barangay and municipal officials, and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams to ensure that quarantine protocols are strictly implemented.
Residents were warned that any person who will violate the order and other health protocols will face appropriate charges or penalties.
Tumulak said there is a need to prevent the further spread of coronavirus in the entire municipality by ensuring all contacts of the confirmed Covid-19 cases are isolated and monitored for symptoms.
Oslob is among the 11 towns and cities in Cebu Province that have been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) with heightened restrictions since August 11 due to rising infections.
Alcoy
Another southern town, Alcoy, has imposed restrictions to limit transmission of the highly contagious disease.
Non-residents of Alcoy town are now prohibited from swimming in all beaches within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality.
Alcoy Mayor Michael Angelo Sestoso issued Thursday, Augiust 19, Executive Order 2021-034 to enforce such a policy in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.
In his EO, Sestoso directed the Alcoy police, all barangay officials, and the local disaster risk reduction and management personnel to implement the order and monitor compliance of non-residents.
He said violators will be apprehended and penalized in accordance with existing ordinances and laws.
Sestoso said that during their meeting with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last August 17, he was informed that Alcoy is one of local government units in Cebu with the highest number of Covid-19 cases.
As of August 15, the municipality has recorded 35 active Covid-19 cases and six additional Covid-19 deaths.
Alcoy has been under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions since August 12.
Alcoy town is bordered on the north by Dalaguete, which is followed by the towns of Argao and Sibonga, and then Carcar City.
As of August 18, Dalaguete had 87 active Covid-19 cases, Argao had 171, and Carcar City had 198. Sibonga reported 124 active cases on August 19.
To the south of Alcoy is the town of Boljoon, followed by the towns of Oslob and Santander.
Boljoon had 25 active cases as of August 16, while Santander, Cebu’s southernmost town, had 70 active cases on August 19.
The towns of Argao, Sibonga and Oslob and Carcar City are among the 11 LGUs that Garcia placed under MECQ with heightened restrictions from August 11-31 to curb the rise in their Covid-19 cases.
Except for San Fernando town which has gone on voluntary MECQ with heightened restrictions, the rest of the LGUs under the jurisdiction of the Cebu Provincial Government are under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until August 31.