More provinces have been placed under enhanced community quarantine as a containing measure against the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
On Monday, Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan imposed a stay-at-home order in his province, a day after its first coronavirus infection was reported in Calbayog City.
Tan placed the entire province of Samar under ‘preemptive enhanced community quarantine’ to restrict the movement of people and prohibit non-essential travel from April 1 to 15, 2020. The measure amended his previous ‘general community quarantine’ policy.
While the new quarantine order is in effect, individuals below 18 years old and people aged 60 years old and above are strictly prohibited from leaving their homes.
Unless they show COVID-19 symptoms, Tan said farmers and fisherfolk are exempted from the lockdown to ensure enough food supply in the province.
The latest move came a day after Samar reported its first COVID-19 case in Calbayog City on March 31.
Negros Oriental is also set to implement strict home quarantine to all its residents starting on April 3. It is also banning land and sea travel to and from the province.
According to the province’s Executive Order No. 2020-26, only one able-bodied member of the household will be allowed to venture out to access basic necessities. He or she must not be older than 65 years old.
Basic services will continue to be provided by local government departments which have adopted alternative work arrangements, the order stipulated.
Only hospitals, pharmacies, gasoline stations, public utility services, and funeral parlors are the establishments allowed to operate 24-hours.
Other businesses like restaurants, public markets, groceries, veterinary clinics, and banks could only operate until 8 pm.
The order also restricts land and sea travel in the province, which means no one is allowed to enter and exit the province during the quarantine period.
In Ilocos Norte, meanwhile, a town mayor has ordered an extreme enhanced community quarantine in one of his barangays.
Paoay Mayor Romulo Acdal, Sr. has imposed a total lockdown in Barangay Sungadan on Wednesday. With all of the community’s establishments ordered shut down, the issuance of quarantine passes was also temporarily suspended.
The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will end on April 13. So far, the country now has 2,311 cases of COVID-19, 96 deaths, and 50 recoveries.
Tacloban-based Stringer Wil Mark Amazona and CNN Philippines Multi-Platform News Writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2020/4/1/samar-quarantine.html
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Public celebration of Masses to resume after Luzon quarantine ends — CBCP
The public celebration of Masses in churches will most likely resume once the enhanced community quarantine ends, an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.
“If quarantine protocols are lifted and the social and physical distancing as well, then most probably public celebration of liturgies will resume in churches,” said Fr. Jerome Secillano, Executive Secretary of the CBCP’s Permanent Committee on Public Affairs.
“The only reason for the online celebration of Masses is the church’s compliance with health protocols,” he added.
As the government imposed enhanced community quarantine, Christian churches across the country are also holding online Masses and services in a bid to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1252266/public-celebration-of-masses-to-resume-after-luzon-quarantine-ends-cbcp
“If quarantine protocols are lifted and the social and physical distancing as well, then most probably public celebration of liturgies will resume in churches,” said Fr. Jerome Secillano, Executive Secretary of the CBCP’s Permanent Committee on Public Affairs.
“The only reason for the online celebration of Masses is the church’s compliance with health protocols,” he added.
As the government imposed enhanced community quarantine, Christian churches across the country are also holding online Masses and services in a bid to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1252266/public-celebration-of-masses-to-resume-after-luzon-quarantine-ends-cbcp
Lawmaker calls for 30-day extension of Luzon-wide quarantine
(CNN Philippines, April 1) — A congressman from Metro Manila has proposed another 30-day extension of the enhanced community quarantine, noting that "science" and "common sense" would prove that the Philippines is still grappling with the COVID-19 crisis.
"Science, the experience of other countries and common sense would dictate that the Philippine government should extend the enhanced community quarantine for another 30 days as we continue to grapple with hard facts on the real statistics of COVID-19 spread in our communities," said Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice.
Erice, a senior vice chair of the House committee on Metro Manila Development, noted that the "gains" of the ongoing 30-day Luzon-wide quarantine will only be put to waste if there will be no extension.
"The ECQ would most likely result the resurgence of the dreaded virus and more likely would affect the blighted areas of urban centers," the congressman said.
He also stressed the need for government to use all resources so that food supply goes to the low-income households affected by the crisis.
Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Thursday described the situation as "far from over."
"Totoo po iyon. Hanggang wala pang vaccine, then ito nga ang sinasabi nating 'new normal' (That is true. As long as there's no vaccine, then this is what we call the 'new normal')," Nograles said.
He earlier said that the task force has not yet made a decision whether the Luzon-wide lockdown will be lifted, extended, or expanded to other areas.
It has been 16 days since President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under the enhanced community quarantine. It has also been a week since he signed into law the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which gives him additional powers to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Both chambers of Congress have yet to convene for a joint congressional oversight committee to review the first weekly report submitted by Duterte last Monday.
The Philippines currently has 2,084 COVID-19 cases to date, with 88 fatalities, and 49 recoveries.
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/1/congressman-proposes-another-30-day-extension-Luzon-lockdown-covid-19.html
"Science, the experience of other countries and common sense would dictate that the Philippine government should extend the enhanced community quarantine for another 30 days as we continue to grapple with hard facts on the real statistics of COVID-19 spread in our communities," said Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice.
Erice, a senior vice chair of the House committee on Metro Manila Development, noted that the "gains" of the ongoing 30-day Luzon-wide quarantine will only be put to waste if there will be no extension.
"The ECQ would most likely result the resurgence of the dreaded virus and more likely would affect the blighted areas of urban centers," the congressman said.
He also stressed the need for government to use all resources so that food supply goes to the low-income households affected by the crisis.
Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Thursday described the situation as "far from over."
"Totoo po iyon. Hanggang wala pang vaccine, then ito nga ang sinasabi nating 'new normal' (That is true. As long as there's no vaccine, then this is what we call the 'new normal')," Nograles said.
He earlier said that the task force has not yet made a decision whether the Luzon-wide lockdown will be lifted, extended, or expanded to other areas.
It has been 16 days since President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under the enhanced community quarantine. It has also been a week since he signed into law the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which gives him additional powers to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Both chambers of Congress have yet to convene for a joint congressional oversight committee to review the first weekly report submitted by Duterte last Monday.
The Philippines currently has 2,084 COVID-19 cases to date, with 88 fatalities, and 49 recoveries.
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/1/congressman-proposes-another-30-day-extension-Luzon-lockdown-covid-19.html
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