GenSan imposes more restrictions to curb Covid-19 spike

THE city government of General Santos City has adopted additional restrictions, including the “no movement Sunday” and a total liquor ban, to contain the spike in community transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The local government issued on Monday afternoon Executive Order (EO) No. 22, reiterating the strengthened border control measures and setting additional guidelines for the “boxing in” strategies to prevent the further spread of the disease.

The order, signed by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, is aimed “to help break the chain of infection” in the households, ‘puroks’ (sub-village), barangays and establishments that triggered the “alarming rise of Covid-19 cases in the city”.

Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, the city administrator, said in a virtual briefing that the city will remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) but with stricter regulations, especially on the movement of people.

He said among the new measures set in the EO is the restoration until the end of the month of the “no movement Sunday,” which was first implemented at the onset of the pandemic and the initial surge of cases last year.

All non-essential movements or transactions are suspended and all business establishments, as well as public markets, will be closed for the entire day.

“This to encourage everyone to stay home so we can slow down and eventually stop the community transmission of Covid-19,” Zapatos said. /