Tourism sites are now open for operation, restaurants can now receive dine-in customers up to 50% of the place’s capacity and can serve alcoholic drinks for two servings, but the wearing of facemask and face shields, physical distancing, frequent handwashing, curfew hours from 10PM to 4:00AM remain enforced.
These, among others are provided in the latest Executive Order issued by Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda this City, which took effect on December 18, 2020.
“With the City being able to maintain its low risk status for COVID-19, coupled with the recent roll-out of the QR Code system which facilitates the swift contact-tracing procedure, Mayor Agda was prompted to transition the health protocols to a lighter degree,” said Atty. Romeo Alexis Devora, Chairman of the Public Health and Safety Task Force (PHSTF). He also shared about the Antigen Test Kits which are now available for Boronganons.
Tourism sites, restaurants and similar establishments were deemed opened for operation with lighter protocols however, in order to balance out the health issue with a looming economic crisis, it was learned.
It can be recalled that some local operators of food stalls by the Borongan Boulevard have expressed lament over their poor to zero income, due to the frequent closure of their stores, whenever contact-tracing activities would be done, for directly exposed individuals to one who tested positive for the virus.
“But now, with Mayor Agda’s recent order, they can resume operation,” Atty. Devora added.
Meanwhile, Dr. John Kelly Cainday informed that some 3,000 antigen tests costing P650.00 each are now available in the City.
Antigen testing is likewise a swab test which are to be administered to returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) upon their arrival in border control points. However, the test will be determined by the local physician present in the checkpoints, whether or not it is indeed, necessary.
The same health official will assess if the arriving LSI will be subjected to isolation in the city’s facilities or just be in home quarantines.
“Home quarantines however, will have also to be accredited by city health officials, if they pass health standards. An exclusive comfort room is one criteria for a home quarantine facility,” Dr. Cainday said.
“With the antigen test, results can be derived already from the instrument, in less than 15 minutes,” the young lawyer-medical doctor added, “but it is not yet a complete assurance that a person who was subjected to antigen test is already negative from COVID-19. He still has to isolate or quarantine himself for full-14 days to ensure his “freedom” from the virus. Others sometimes manifest symptoms on the fourth or eighth day after he had been directly exposed to a COVID positive, thus the necessity to complete the full 14-day quarantine,” Doc Kelly noted.
Dr. Cainday and Atty. Devora were with the City Mayor in the recently held meeting with local media and for himself, Mayor Agda informed that aside from the present 3,000 antigen test kits, the City Government has likewise allocated some P20M funds for the procurement of the same kit for 2021.
“But even with this new and positive development in our fight against COVID-19, with our QR Code System now in place, the Antigen Test Kits now with us, I still enjoin everyone, nga diri tumagya. Always wear facemask kay asya ini it mayormente nga nakakatalwas ha at, ngan nakaka-sagang hit virus nga diri makatalapon ngadi hit at irong, mata ug baba,” reminded Mayor Agda.
“And yes, wara la anay katsarit, party-party, even attendees in wedding ceremonies, when there are, are limited to families and close relatives,“ Mayor Agda stressed further.
He also reminded everyone, to continue praying because according to him, it is because of Boronganons’ being prayerful that makes the place lesser problematic of the virus.
He also shared the information given by Gov. Ben Evardone that passenger buses are expected to operate soon, which can expect likewise the influx of returning kababayans due to Christmas holidays.
The City Mayor continues to believe that the practice of every Boronganon of the prescribed health protocols will sustain the city’s low risk level for COVID-19. #
#BoronganonDisiplinadoAko
