WITH THREE Covid variants now in the Philippines, the City Government of Zamboanga has ordered a stringent implementation of health protocols in spite of the relaxed travel requirements imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid task force, said she ordered the strict enforcement of health protocols at the borders and in different barangays to prevent the spread of the deadly respiratory disease.
She emphasized anew the need for mandatory RT-PCR testing for specific travellers based on the Executive Order 641 as well as the need for the imposition of curfew hours, adding. “The strict enforcement of the regulations and protocols is being done to ensure that Covid-19 will not thrive in the city. All persons should be subject to compliance with the IATF-MEID and local government health protocols for everyone’s safety and protection. No queremos que se enfermen porque al final el gobierno local tiene que cuidarlos,” she said.
Climaco, citing latest health records, said Zamboanga has only over 5 dozen active Covid cases and at least 189 deaths since the pandemic began in March last year. “We reiterate the need for public compliance on all safety and health protocols to prevent a spike in Covid cases. The wearing of face mask and face shield, washing hands often with soap and water, or alcohol, and the strict observance of physical distancing remain to be our main defense against Covid-19,” she said.
The mayor said at least 34 people tried, but failed to enter Zamboanga through Barangay Licomo on the other side of Zamboanga Sibugay for failing to present any documents.
The emergence of a new Philippine variant of Covid-19, and also the U.K. and South African variants have health officials and medical experts worried over the sudden spike of the disease, especially in the National Capital Region.
In Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno has imposed selective or “granular” lockdowns in different barangays even while the city is under General Community Quarantine due to the rising numbers of active Covid-19 cases there. “GCQ kami ngayon, pero buhay-ECQ,” he said, referring to the strictest quarantine status.
“Nagawa na natin yan noong ECQ. Nakapag-function naman yung gobyerno ng lungsod at nakapag-serbisyo naman 'yung tao. Precautionary measures lang,” he said.
The Manila mayor said there should be an increased vigilance in the country’s ports of entry due to the new Covid-19 mutations. “Isa siguro na pwede nating gawan ng assessment ay 'yung mga pumapasok na bagong variants na siya namang aking pinagtataka. Baka naman napapabayaan ng Bureau of Quarantine sa ating mga ports of entry via air and sea. Baka 'yung mga dumarating dito ay hindi nila masyadong nasisiyasat,” Moreno said. (Zamboanga Post)
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