MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, chairperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force on coronavirus disease (Covid-19), has issued an executive order closing the borders of the city to protect the residents from the dreaded disease.
Executive Order (EO) BC-552-2020, dated March 14, will take effect Monday midnight. The order was supposed to take effect noontime Monday but was it move to midnight.
The EO stated that all incoming land, air, and sea transport are suspended, but the suspension does not affect movement of goods, supplies and outgoing passenger trips.
It added that all passenger vessels, except cargo ships, especially coming from Malaysia are prohibited entry in the local port and finger wharves.
However, cargoes of these vessel are allowed to unload but the officers and crew are prohibited to disembark effective midnight Monday until April 15, 2020. All non-conventional vessels are strictly prohibited from docking and unloading their passengers and cargoes in all seaports, wharves and other points of entry in this city.
Salazar clarified that it is not a community quarantine nor a lockdown but suspension of travel to the city based on the recommendation of the city health office since the situation is very critical.
"The transmission of infection is fast once the people are mobile," said Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, City Health Office chief.
The order includes the cancellation of all public and private mass gatherings, among others, but not limited to public parks and gardens, government facilities, barangay halls, community centers, private establishments such as hotels and restaurants, concerts, beaches, resorts, places of worships, general assemblies, barangay fondas, cockfighting, moving up ceremonies and graduations.
Salazar said religious and social gatherings must observe strict preventive measures like social distancing and practice of hand sanitation and hygiene.
Malls, shopping centers, hotels and restaurants should establish sanitation zones, and mandatory temperature checks should be implemented at the entrance of their establishments.
Jail visitations are also canceled except bringing of food but limited up to the gate.
The mayor said those who will violate the EO may be subjected to criminal or administrative prosecution if warranted under existing laws.
Meanwhile, Salazar has called for the understanding of the public since it is for the protection of everybody in Zamboanga City, which remains Covid-19-free.
Miravite said there are seven patients under investigation (PUI0 and 85 persons under monitoring (PUM) with zero positive case of Covid-19 in the city as of March 15.
The PUIs are those who have the travel history in China, a history of exposure with a confirmed case or visited a health facility with a confirmed case, and with respiratory symptoms (cough, colds, and fever).
The PUM are persons who have traveled to China or had exposure to those with confirmed Covid-19 but show no signs and symptoms. They are asked to be home quarantined for 14 days and wear a mask. (SunStar Zamboanga)