More mitigating measures as Cebu fights COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines —  In light of the steadily increasing cases of COVID-19 in the country, the Province of Cebu is taking additional mitigating measures that include extended curfews, work from home schemes, temporary closure of establishments, and stricter implementation of the social distancing policy.

Last Saturday, March 22, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order No. 5-K in addition to the series of orders she has signed that laid down the province's preventive measures against COVID-19.

The EO was released right after an emergency meeting with the Provincial Inter-agency Task Force at the Capitol. Also joining Garcia in the meeting were Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes and Lapu-Lapu Mayor Ahong Chan.

"There is a need to implement additional mitigation measures in order to limit the social interaction of the people of Cebu," Garcia’s order reads.

In the EO, Garcia directed for a 24-hour curfew among students and senior citizens aged  65 and above. Included in the students sector are unemployed postgraduate students while health workers, hospital workers and administrative staff, medical professionals, volunteers of emergency response units, public officials and government employees are exempted from this curfew.

Also exempted are those who need to go to medical facilities with certificates of exemption from local chief executives.

For easier identification, residents travelling across the province are required to carry Identification Cards (ID). This will be checked by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the military assigned at checkpoints.

This curfew extension became effective yesterday afternoon, March 22.

Meanwhile, business process outsourcing companies and non-profit organizations were directed to reduce in-person workforces to a skeletal workforce comprising of, at most, 50 percent of their employees. The rest of the labor force should be able to work from home.

Exempted from the order are essential business establishments such as health care operations; infrastructure including utilities, telecommunication, airports, transportation, food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, grocery stores and pharmacies, trash collection, mail and shipping services; news media; banks; construction; and sanitation services.

Establishments that, in the nature of the services they provide, cannot follow social distancing are ordered to close down temporarily until further notice. These include pubs, bars, internet cafes, video gaming arcades, gambling facilities, barbershops, hair salons, tattoo or piercing parlors, aesthetic centers, and other personal care services.

As of press time, there are already 380 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country along with 25 deaths. Meanwhile, 15 COVID-19 patients have recovered.  JMO (FREEMAN)