VIRAC, Catanduanes, Nov. 5 (PIA ) –This island province in Bicol has been placed back under the more restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status amid the surge of its COVID-19 cases.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the government’s leading arm against the COVID-19 pandemic, approved the move to place Catanduanes under MECQ starting October 28 until November 15.
As per latest DOH bulletin on coronavirus pandemic, Catanduanes is currently at high risk for COVID-19 transmission.
In line with the IATF’s decision, Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua issued an executive order adopting the guidelines for areas placed under MECQ.
The governor’s EO 37 spelled out the effects of MECQ for Catanduanes which had been under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) since May 2020.
Under EO 37, the following shall be implemented:
Travel and movement
1. Strict compliance to minimum public health standards. Travel should be limited to accessing essential goods and services, for work in permitted establishments.
2. Essential travellers and Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) shall be allowed. Registration and submission of requirements to the SPASS is still required and those with approved Travel Coordination Permit will be allowed entry.
3. Those below 18 years old, over 65 years old, those with co-morbidities, pregnant women should stay at home, except for work and obtaining essential services. LGUs may relax the minimum age range to below 15 years old, depending on the COVID-19 situation in their respective jurisdictions.
4. Agencies and instrumentalities of the government shall be fully operational, with a skeleton workforce on-site and the remainder under alternative work arrangements.
5. Mass gatherings are prohibited. Religious gatherings will be allowed up to 10% of the venue capacity, but LGUs are allowed to increase it up to 30%.
6. Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for non-COVID deaths are allowed, but limited to immediate family members.
7. Individual outdoor exercises while wearing face masks are allowed within the barangay or village.
8. Road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors of public transportation may operate at such capacity and protocols in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation.
9. Movement of cargo, delivery vehicles, as well as vehicles used by public utility companies, shall be unhampered.
Business operations
All establishments, persons, or activities not permitted to operate, work, or be undertaken during ECQ shall be allowed to operate at fifty percent (50%) on-site capacity while encouraging work-from-Home and other flexible work arrangements, where applicable. The following establishments, persons r activities shall not be permitted to operate, work, or be undertaken during MECQ:
a. Entertainment venues with live performances such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters and cinemas
b. Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys and similar venues
c. Amusement parks or theme parks
d. Outdoor sports courts venue
e. Indoor sports courts of venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas or other indoor leisure centers or facilities and swimming pools
f. Indoor visitor or tourist attractions
g. Outdoor tourist attractions
h. Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions
i. Personal care services which include beauty salons, beauty parlors, medical aesthetic clinic, etc.
j. Indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants and eateries
The incident management team of Catanduanes is authorized to monitor the local governments’ implementation of the provisions under the EO. Violators face the penalties in Republic Act 1132 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
As of October 29, Catanduanes had 395 active cases. (PIA V- Catanduanes)
