COMMUNITY QUARANTINE. Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, the chairperson of the Task Force Covid-19, distributes alcohol, through the courtesy of the Kabuhayan Party-list, to the members of the Zamboanga media after a press conference on Wednesday (March 18, 2020). Salazar announces the imposition of enhanced community quarantine effective at 1 a.m. Friday (March 20) to contain the spread of the dreaded disease. (PNA photo by Teofilo P. Garcia, Jr.)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Task Force coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is imposing a one-month enhanced community quarantine effective 1 a.m. Friday (March 20) to prevent the entry of the dreaded Covide-19 here.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, the chairperson of the Task Force Covid-19, said Wednesday the quarantine will be coupled with an eight-hour curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Salazar said the quarantine will entail the limiting of movements only to accessing basic necessities and the heightened presence of uniform personnel to enforce quarantine procedures.
“For this purpose, only two individuals per household will be allowed to leave their homes. Barangay officials shall be directed to monitor compliance with this policy,” the task force said in an order released Wednesday.
Salazar said classes and school activities at all levels, both in public and private schools, will remain suspended, as well as mass gatherings and religious activities.
“The only way to prevent infection from the virus is to stay home,” Salazar said.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), said the measures are "for the best interest of the public."
Rev. Fr. Marciano Villagracia, Archdiocese of Zamboanga spokesperson, said masses celebrated in public with a congregation will be suspended in all parishes beginning 5:30 p.m. Thursday (March 19).
However, Villagracia said churches, including the Our Lady of the Pillar shrine, remain open so that "faithful in need of prayer and seeking prayerful moment may find solace and strength in their trying times and the present crisis."
Salazar said the movement of cargoes within and into the city will remain unhampered while establishments providing basic necessities will still be allowed to operate.
"Land, air, and sea travel of uniformed personnel, government officials and members of the task force Covid-19 for official business, especially those transporting medical supplies, laboratory specimens related to the dreaded disease, and other humanitarian assistance, shall be allowed. A valid identification card will be presented at checkpoints," she said.
She said a work from home arrangement will be implemented except the police, military, health and emergency frontline services, border control, financial institutions, power, water, and telecommunication utilities and other critical services.
She said the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will provide food packs to daily wage earners who are expected to be displaced by the quarantine.
The mayor said there are 12 patients under investigation and 353 persons under monitoring Tuesday night. (PNA)
