Negros imposes stricter rules on Cebu returnees

BACOLOD CITY: The provincial government of Negros Occidental is implementing stricter rules for residents returning from the neighboring island of Cebu.

The stricter rules were imposed after the Inter- Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases upgraded Cebu City’s general community quarantine to enhanced community quarantine because of increasing coronavirus cases.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson extended the modified general community quarantine in Negros Occidental from June 16 to 30.

Lacson said Negrenses coming from Cebu would be allowed to enter the province only through the governmentowned Danao Port in Escalante City.

The admission of locally stranded individuals ( LSIs), who will be required to undergo RT- PCR test — reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction — upon arrival, will also be based on the capacity of the isolation facility in Cadiz City.

“In fact, the more we have to be strict because Cebu is now back to enhanced community quarantine. I felt that by just limiting it [ the point of entry] to one port, we can better control [ the arrival of LSIs]. The other option is to say no, we will not accept [ returnees] from Cebu,” Lacson pointed out.

It is now “too dangerous” to accept LSIs from Cebu. The province needs the assistance of the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority and Philippine Coast Guard in regulating their arrival, the governor explained.

“We are in this fight together. We have simplified matters, made it easier, but we really need your cooperation. Meaning, you shall not allow any passenger to take a sea vessel [ from Cebu] that will dock in another port. We are talking only of one port. We will not accept LSIs coming from Negros Oriental,” he said.

“If there are only 50 rooms available, then we will accept 50 LSIs. If there are 100 rooms available, we will only accept 100,” he said.

Four residents of Negros Occidental, who came home from Cebu in the first week of June, have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid- 19).

Cebu City, with 2,810 Covid- 19 cases as of June 14, has already surpassed Quezon City.

In Cebu province, there were already more than 4,000 cases as of last week.

As of Tuesday morning, Negros Occidental had 22 positive cases, nine of whom have recovered.