MANDATORY

‘Wearing of face shields, masks in public places now obligatory’

FOLLOWING THE surge in Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga City and the unabated violations by many residents of quarantine and health guidelines in preventing the spread of the deadly respiratory disease, the local government has strictly ordered the implementation of mandatory wearing of face mask and face shield in public places.

This was also contained in the order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to all local governments throughout the country in an effort to contain the spread of the Covid-19.

“All persons are mandated to wear face masks and face shields in all public transportation, supermarkets, public markets, malls and in all venues where government-initiated meetings and critical government services are being conducted or provided, or such other protective equipment which can effectively lessen the transmission of Covid-19, whenever they go out of their residences, pursuant to existing guidelines issued by the national government subject to fair and humane penalties or punishment imposed,” the DILG said.

Chief Covid-19 frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco, in her Executive Order 607-2020, also imposed curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., but exempted from this are government workers who are on duty during the curfew hours, and medical doctors and veterinarians, public utility workers conducting construction or emergency activities; those who are attending a wake of a family member, and authorized persons out of residence.”

A liquor ban is now in effect Monday through Sunday and drinking in public places such as roads, alleys, open spaces and other similar places is strictly prohibited.

All city and national government celebrations and festivities, anniversaries and parties are also cancelled throughout the year. Private parties celebrated at home to mark personal family milestones are encouraged to be kept simple and there is now a strict prohibition on videoke, video singko and karaoke inside private property due to online class of students.

Climaco said only quarantine pass holders shall be allowed to get out of their houses to access basic needs such as food and medicines, and other acts now allowed under the Modified General Community Quarantine guidelines set by the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

One passenger and 1 driver are only allowed for ordinary motorized tricycles while 1 driver and 2 passengers are allowed for bigger Piaggio or Bajaj tricycles.

Despite the strict implementation of the MGCQ guidelines by the local task force against Covid-19 headed by Climaco, police and military, and enforcers of local ordinances continue to apprehend hundreds of violators daily.

Most of the Covid-19 cases here are due to community transmission. In a recent data released by the local government, the number of active Covid-19 cases went down from nearly 800 to just about 70 with recoveries nearing 2,000. Zamboanga’s Covid-19 deaths is only 105 since the pandemic began in March.

Climaco has repeatedly appealed to residents to strictly follow the health and safety protocols. (Zamboanga Post)

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