GOVERNOR Edwin Ongchuan has placed the entire province of Northern Samar under “general community quarantine” to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In Executive Order (EO) 01-03-20 series of 2020, Ongchuan said the community quarantine will start at 12 a.m. of March 19 and end on April 15, 2020.
The declaration was agreed upon after Ongchuan’s meeting with municipal mayors, local health officials and other stakeholders on March 17.
Included in the EO is the imposition of a daily curfew in all municipalities, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. This will be implemented starting March 19.
Ongchuan also directed all municipalities in the province to restrict the non-essential entry and exit of people either by land, sea or air, especially those who are vulnerable to Covid-19, such as the elderly, pregnant women, those who have weak immune system, and with co-morbidities.
He said all persons entering and leaving Northern Samar must be checked for symptoms of Covid-19 at the entry/exit checkpoints, which will be established Thursday, March 19.
The checkpoints or border patrol will be established at designated areas identified by the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office, in coordination with the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 and local government units, Ongchuan said.
All returning residents who arrive in the province are also instructed to submit themselves to their respective Barangay Health Emergency Response Team for a 14-day home quarantine.
The movement of cargoes to and from the province will, however, be unhampered.
Also exempted from the restriction of movement are the following:
— Health workers
— Police and military
— Authorized government officials or employees
— Those traveling for medical and humanitarian reasons
— Persons providing basic services and public utilities
— Essential skeletal workforce
— Returning residents
— Members of the Provincial Health Board and the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19
— Cargo vehicles, including their drivers and helpers, bringing in goods, supplies and equipment provided that documents are presented where the delivery shall be done.
These persons must provide proof of employment, identification, or residency, the EO stated.
The general community quarantine declaration also means suspension of public gatherings in barangays and municipalities, such as fiestas and festivals, reunions, fairs, concerts, games and sports matches, and religious and other public events.
Ongchuan’s order also stated that preventive and safety measures, such as social distancing, frequent disinfection and sanitation of transport terminals and vehicles, and provision of alcohol, hand sanitizer, and hand soap for all passengers, must be implemented.
“The public and private sector are strongly encouraged to formulate, implement and enforce preventive and safety measures and administrative and work practice controls in their workplaces,” it added.
Earlier, the Provincial Government of Northern Samar suspended until April 14 the classes in all levels in public and private schools.
Northern Samar has no confirmed case of Covid-19, as of March 18. It, however, has 25 patients under investigation for the coronavirus disease, as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)