SAN JOSE, Antique – The Antique Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) activated provincial border checkpoints in the towns of Hamtic, Anini-y, Pandan, and Libertad.
Policemen manning them would be asking people intending to enter Antique their purpose and where they are headed.
Body temperatures would also be checked.
All these are for contact tracing purposes, said Gov. Rhodora Cadiao.
Antique is under the more relaxed general community quarantine while neighboring Iloilo province is under the strictest enhanced community quarantine due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
If possible, said Cadiao, people should forgo nonessential travel.
“Sa border, pamangkuton sanda kon importante ang travel,” she told Panay News.
As for Antiqueños wanting to go to other provinces or cities within Region 6, Cadiao said the trips better be essential.
The Antique IATF also activated “courtesy border controls” in its 18 municipalities to limit the movement of people.
Data from the Provincial Health Office (as of July 19) showed Antique with 420 active COVID-19 cases, 2,254 cases that recovered and 130 deaths.
The 420 active cases were in the municipalities of San Jose (107), Sibalom (38), Belison (34), Tibiao (34), Hamtic (33), Pandan (31), Anini-y (27), Culasi (24), Bugasong (20), Laua-an (15), Sebaste (11), Patnongon (10), San Remigio (eight), Libertad (seven), Barbaza (six), Caluya (five), Tobias Fornier(five), and Valderrama (five).
Cadiao reminded Antiqueños to continue practicing the health protocols – wear facemask and face shield in public, observe physical distancing and proper hand washing./PN
