ZAMBOANGA CITY has reverted to a stricter quarantine measure following a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases due to the influx of thousands of locally stranded persons or LSIs, and returning overseas Filipino workers or OFWs, and even deportees from Sabah.
The national task force on Covid-19 placed the entire city under General Community Quarantine from the more relaxed Moderate General Community Quarantine for just about 2 weeks.
Zamboanga was previously under a stricter Enhanced Community Quarantine for over 2 months beginning March at the height of the pandemic in the country.
Mayor Beng Climaco expressed alarm over the rising number of Covid-19 cases here and repeatedly appealed residents to take extra measures to protect themselves from the deadly respiratory disease that had killed at least 10 people here.
Coronavirus cases here spiked after the national government allowed the return of thousands of LSIs, OFWs and those deported from Malaysia. And this was aggravated by the Balik-Probinsya Program introduced by Senator Bong Go in an effort to decongest the National Capital Region which is one of the epicenters of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Zamboanga now has nearly or over 150 active Covid-19 cases from a little over a dozen in April after the local government, through its Task Force Covid-19 headed by Climaco, managed to flatten the pandemic curve.
“As we have all anticipated, the opening of commercial flights, the entry of local stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipinos, and the easing of restrictions will put the city at greater risk for illnesses due to Covid-19,” Climaco said. “Nohay kita falta na de aton maga aviso con el publico. Necesita gayot el suporta y cooperacion de todo amediante este pandemia.”
Climaco previously met with Regional Health Director Dr. Emilia Monicimpo, City Health Officer, Dr. Dulce Miravite and Councilor Jimmy Villaflores, the mayor’s action officer on health; and the chiefs of different hospitals here, as well as the representative of the local chapter of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines and discussed further preparations amid the spike in Covid-19 cases.
She also had a meeting with City Police Director Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir and Task Force Zamboanga Commander Colonel John Divinagracia, City Administrator Apple Go and Councilor Josephine Pareja and discussed the strict implementation of MGCQ guidelines.
Many residents had been reported to have violated the health protocols, especially the wearing of face masks in public places, and for not carrying their quarantine pass. Dozens of motorcycle riders were also apprehended carrying passengers which is not allowed by the national task force on Covid-19.
Climaco reminded residents to always carry their quarantine pass if they go out for work or to buy essential goods. She said residents should all the more be compliant of quarantine guidelines and follow the minimum health standards. “Strict compliance of the guidelines and the minimum health standards should be a personal responsibility of each and every resident of the city,” she said.
Every time Climaco holds a virtual presser to brief the public on the progress of the battle against Covid-19, she always tell residents to maintain cleanliness and avoid holding their face, nose, mouth and eyes and frequently wash hands with soap and water, and at all times wear face mask and observe physical distancing – at least a meter apart from each other in public places.
“We continue to appeal to the public to remain vigilant, strictly comply with the quarantine guidelines and continuously practice minimum health standards - wear face mask, frequently wash hands, observe physical distancing and avoid non-essential movement or activities,” she said.
Climaco appealed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the
Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to intervene after other local governments stopped accepting their returning residents fearing Covid-19 contagion,
and virtually making Zamboanga City the holding area for them, thus also raising the risks for contamination.
Many of the LSIs came from Manila and Cebu where Covid-19 cases are high.
“This poses a problem to the city and its residents, and we hope to ask the national government to intervene so that these individuals will be able to go home safe and sound in their own place,” she said, stressing that the current crisis demands the support and cooperation of everyone in an effort to stop the further spread of the virus.
Despite this huge problem, Climaco said the city government continues to work with its partners in the private sector, and “we continue to collaborate with our co-implementer, the National Resilience Council to conduct the web-base geo-special risk data-base on Covid-19 pandemic.” (Zamboanga Post)
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The national task force on Covid-19 placed the entire city under General Community Quarantine from the more relaxed Moderate General Community Quarantine for just about 2 weeks.
Zamboanga was previously under a stricter Enhanced Community Quarantine for over 2 months beginning March at the height of the pandemic in the country.
Mayor Beng Climaco expressed alarm over the rising number of Covid-19 cases here and repeatedly appealed residents to take extra measures to protect themselves from the deadly respiratory disease that had killed at least 10 people here.
Coronavirus cases here spiked after the national government allowed the return of thousands of LSIs, OFWs and those deported from Malaysia. And this was aggravated by the Balik-Probinsya Program introduced by Senator Bong Go in an effort to decongest the National Capital Region which is one of the epicenters of Covid-19 cases in the country.
“LSIs, OFWs, Deportees carry virus’
Zamboanga now has nearly or over 150 active Covid-19 cases from a little over a dozen in April after the local government, through its Task Force Covid-19 headed by Climaco, managed to flatten the pandemic curve.
“As we have all anticipated, the opening of commercial flights, the entry of local stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipinos, and the easing of restrictions will put the city at greater risk for illnesses due to Covid-19,” Climaco said. “Nohay kita falta na de aton maga aviso con el publico. Necesita gayot el suporta y cooperacion de todo amediante este pandemia.”
Climaco previously met with Regional Health Director Dr. Emilia Monicimpo, City Health Officer, Dr. Dulce Miravite and Councilor Jimmy Villaflores, the mayor’s action officer on health; and the chiefs of different hospitals here, as well as the representative of the local chapter of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines and discussed further preparations amid the spike in Covid-19 cases.
She also had a meeting with City Police Director Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir and Task Force Zamboanga Commander Colonel John Divinagracia, City Administrator Apple Go and Councilor Josephine Pareja and discussed the strict implementation of MGCQ guidelines.
Many residents had been reported to have violated the health protocols, especially the wearing of face masks in public places, and for not carrying their quarantine pass. Dozens of motorcycle riders were also apprehended carrying passengers which is not allowed by the national task force on Covid-19.
Climaco reminded residents to always carry their quarantine pass if they go out for work or to buy essential goods. She said residents should all the more be compliant of quarantine guidelines and follow the minimum health standards. “Strict compliance of the guidelines and the minimum health standards should be a personal responsibility of each and every resident of the city,” she said.
Every time Climaco holds a virtual presser to brief the public on the progress of the battle against Covid-19, she always tell residents to maintain cleanliness and avoid holding their face, nose, mouth and eyes and frequently wash hands with soap and water, and at all times wear face mask and observe physical distancing – at least a meter apart from each other in public places.
“We continue to appeal to the public to remain vigilant, strictly comply with the quarantine guidelines and continuously practice minimum health standards - wear face mask, frequently wash hands, observe physical distancing and avoid non-essential movement or activities,” she said.
Climaco appealed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the
Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to intervene after other local governments stopped accepting their returning residents fearing Covid-19 contagion,
and virtually making Zamboanga City the holding area for them, thus also raising the risks for contamination.
Many of the LSIs came from Manila and Cebu where Covid-19 cases are high.
“This poses a problem to the city and its residents, and we hope to ask the national government to intervene so that these individuals will be able to go home safe and sound in their own place,” she said, stressing that the current crisis demands the support and cooperation of everyone in an effort to stop the further spread of the virus.
Despite this huge problem, Climaco said the city government continues to work with its partners in the private sector, and “we continue to collaborate with our co-implementer, the National Resilience Council to conduct the web-base geo-special risk data-base on Covid-19 pandemic.” (Zamboanga Post)
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