MANILA – The community quarantine in Guimaras and Negros Occidental has been downgraded from “enhanced” to “general.” Malacañang called this the “new normal” in the two provinces, as the rest of Western Visayas and country struggle to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In lowering the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ), the Palace noted the two provinces’ having a “low risk” of further disease transmissions, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a virtual press conference on Friday.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) as of April 24 showed Negros Occidental having only four confirmed cases of COVID-19, while Guimaras had none at all.
The GCQ, which will take effect on May 1, is a less stringent form of lockdown, said Roque.
The rest of Western Visayas will continue to be on ECQ until May 15 albeit there will be a review, said Roque.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recommended that the following steps be taken in areas under the general quarantine:
* all ports and airports will open for transportation of goods
* children from zero to 20 years old, seniors 60 and above and those with health risks are advised to stay at home
* partial mall opening for non-leisure shops
* opening of priority and essential construction projects
* public transport to operate at reduced capacity
* curfew for non-workers
* re-prioritizing of cash assistance from the social amelioration program to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) areas
* consider allowing high school and higher education institutions “to finish and give credentials to students”
* 100 percent opening of businesses engaged in agriculture, fisheries and forestry
* food manufacturing and supply chain opening, including ink, packaging and raw materials, food retail, supermarkets, restaurants (takeout and delivery only), hospitals, logistics, water and energy firms, internet service providers, telecommunications, and media
* recommended to open 50 to 100 percent of other firms in manufacturing, electronics and exports, e-commerce and delivery for essential and non-essential items, repair and maintenance services, housing and office services
* consider opening up to 50 percent on-site work and 50 percent work-from-home for companies engaged in financial services, business process outsourcing, other non-leisure wholesale and retail trade, and other non-leisure services
* consider 100 percent closure of schools and re-opening up to September
* limited resumption of construction
Roque said the guidelines for the GCQ will be finalized and released to the public on April 27 and will be implemented by May 1.
The IATF-EID will evaluate before May 16 if the GCQ is to be lifted.
Just this April 15, the provincial government of Guimaras raised its pandemic response level from Level 1 to Level 2 to ensure that it remained free from COVID-19.
Under Level 2 response, entry to different ports of Guimaras became limited, according to Gov. Samuel Gumarin.
Returning residents of the province were only allowed entry if they did not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms but would have to comply with the mandatory quarantine regulations.
According to Gumarin, the provincial government deemed it wise to raise the pandemic response level because the province was vulnerable, given the limited capacity of its healthcare system.
Non-residents who intend to enter Guimaras are only allowed if the purpose of travel is to transport basic commodities and necessities and for emergency cases that may result to loss of life, liberty or property, provided they are certified cleared from COVID by the designated health authority and shall be issued an inbound pass.
Outbound travels of Guimarasnons are also limited with only medical referrals and travels for emergency purposes allowed provided they have valid IDs and Quarantine Pass.
For non-residents who leave the island, only those that have In-bound Pass are be allowed to travel.
Further, trips of motorbancas and Ro-Ro vessels plying the Guimaras-Iloilo route vice versa have been significantly reduced.
Business hours for establishments, except those considered essential, have also been reduced.
Public transportations are regulated to abide the guidelines set by DOH for physical distancing.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental provincial government started easing restrictions in some of its quarantine measures on April 20 yet.
“After safeguarding the health and safety of every Negrense, it is now time to look after the economic and financial welfare of everyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the province,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson stated in Executive Order 20-20-B.
In his directive, Lacson said that since the ECQ started on March 30, there had been no reported local transmission of COVID-19 in the 12 component cities and 19 municipalities in the province.
“Therefore, it is now safe to plan the transition from ECQ to GCQ,” said Lacson.
Aside from Negros Occidental and Guimaras, other areas under GCQ are Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, Quirino, Aurora, Palawan, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate, Bohol, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Saranggani, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Basilan and Sulu./PN