Cebu City scraps 14-day quarantine

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has confirmed that inbound travelers need not undergo the 14-day quarantine unless their RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test results are positive.

“Those who arrive in Cebu City with a negative RT-PCR result will no longer be quarantined. For those who test positive of coronavirus, of course, ato silang i-quarantine,” said Labella.

Labella said what the city has maintained is the requirement of a negative RT-PCR test for travelers to the city, a move that earned the nod of the Department of Health-7 and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in the Visayas.

“Ato nang gitangtang ang medical certificate, katong ubang requirements, usa ra gyud atong gibilin ang atong RT- PCR. This is based on the recommendation of the city health officials, Emergency Operations Center, ug atong regional IATF,” said Labella.

Meanwhile, Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) are exempted from the RT-PCR requirement when entering the city.

Labella said other requirements, such as travel authority and health certificates, will no longer be required pursuant to the IATF’s latest guidelines.

“For the record, mao ra gihapon ang travel documents nga atong gi-require, gawas nga di na kinahanglan mag-secure og travel authority to enter Cebu City ug medical certificate from the local health office where they came from,” he said.

Labella, however, said if the city’s COVID-19 cases would decrease and a flattening of the curve would occur, it might convince him to dispense with the submission of the RT-PCR test.

“If everything will turn out right, if we will again maka-experience ta og flattenning of the curve, decrease of our number of cases, we might reconsider again, and of course I will really have to consult with our health officials because they are the experts, they know the ramification ug unsay mga consequences so mas maayo lang gyud nga motuo lang gyud ta sa sulti sa health experts,” said Labella.

“At the same time dili gyud nato sad pasagdan ang opportunity sa atong kaigsunonan, labi na ang mga negosyante sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo, nga makapadayon sa ilang commercial endeavors kay we really have to bring back the economy to a better condition,” he added.

Last week, Malacañang announced that the IATF approved the uniform travel protocols for local government units.

Under the protocols specified in IATF Resolution No. 101, travelers need not undergo COVID-19 testing, unless required by the LGU prior to travel. Such testing will be RT-PCR test only, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing.

Meanwhile, travelers will no longer be subjected to quarantine, unless they exhibit symptoms at the destination upon arrival.

Roque said the travel authority, which was previously issued by the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, as well as health certificates, will no longer be required.

Those from national government agencies and their attached agencies who are APOR, however, need to present their ID, travel order and travel itinerary. They should also be able to pass symptom-screening upon entry and exit. —KQD (FREEMAN)