TACLOBAN CITY – The municipality of Naval in Biliran province has imposed new travel restrictions to avoid mass gatherings during the town fiesta next week.
Through Executive Order No. 029 approved this week, the entry of non-residents to the town center and in the villages of Sto. Rosario and P.I. Garcia are strictly prohibited from Oct. 1 to 3.
Exempted in the travel ban are medical and security front-liners, emergency responders, government employees, and workers in essential establishments.
In compliance with the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), all commodities would be allowed access provided their carriers would present corresponding documents as proof prior to business transactions, the local government said.
“Visitors are not allowed especially in households with senior citizens, minors, pregnant, and other vulnerable individuals. These measures must be implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19,” Mayor Gerard Roger Espina said in a statement on Friday.
The town will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary on Oct. 3.
The local government will also strictly impose the liquor ban and the 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew except for front-liners and other essential workers.
"We remind the public to observe the minimum health standards such as the wearing of face masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and proper cough etiquette, especially during religious gatherings," Espina said.
To date, Biliran has no active case of Covid-19 as all its 24 patients have recovered from the disease, based on the monitoring of the Department of Health.
Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas has confirmed a total of 4,419 cases since March, including 3,745 recoveries and 41 deaths. (PNA)