Isabela City place under GCQ with heightened restrictions effective Oct. 16-31

By: Nilda T. Delos Reyes

 

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, October 14 (PIA) – With the sudden spike of COVID-19 infections, Isabela City is reverted to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) effective October 16 – 31, this time with heightened restrictions.

Isabela City COVID-19 Task Force chaired by Mayor Sitti Djalia T. Hataman convened on October 12 and discussed the situation of increasing COVID-19 infections.

 

Dr. Mohrein Ismael VI, City Health Officer, disclosed most of the cases reported in the month of September and first few days of October were symptomatic, with a higher 3.1% case mortality. Based on recent CHO reports, most of city's reported deaths were senior citizens and unvaccinated individuals. 

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Jamju Rivera, Assistant City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer reported the City's Emergency Operation Center response and status of COVID-19 beds utilization and capacity in local hospitals in the city are already at 100% full bed capacity.

 

To address this and avoid possible quick spread of the virus, the local TF approved a resolution reverting the community quarantine status of the city to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions. 

 

The resolution was subsequently concurred by Basilan Bawal COVID19 Task Force and the Regional IATF under Joint RIATF-RTF IX Resolution No. 28 series 2021 issued on Wednesday (October 13) approved by Isabela City COVID19 Task Force Resolution No. 05 series 2021 reclassifying Isabela City from Modified General Community Quarantine  (MGCQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from October 16-31, 2021.

 

Under the GCQ status, the following heightened guidelines will strictly be implemented:

 

1. Food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eaters may operate with their indoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of twenty percent (20%) and with their al fresco or outdoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of fifty percent (50%);

 

2. Personal care services, such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas, may operate up to thirty percent (30%) of venue or eating capacity. For this purpose, these establishments shall only provide services that can accommodate the wearing of face masks at all times by patrons/clients and service providers;

 

3. Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) events and social events in venue establishments shall not be allowed;

 

4. Outdoor tourist attractions, as may be defined by the Department of Tourism (DOT), shall remain to be allowed at thirty percent (30%) venue capacity with strict adherence to minimum public health standards;

 

5. Under the Safety Seal Certificate Program, business establishments awarded Safety Seal Certifications shall be allowed to operate at an additional (10) percentage points beyond the prescribed on-site capacity or venue/seating capacity, whichever is applicable.

 

6. Indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions shall not be allowed to operate;

7. Specialized markets of the DOT such as Staycations without age restrictions shall remain to be allowed at such capacities, protocols, and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT;

 

8. Interzonal travel shall be allowed subject to restriction of the local government unit of destination. Point-to-Point travel to areas under General Community Quarantine and Modified General Community Quarantine shall be allowed without age restrictions subject to an RT-PCR test-before-travel requirement for those below eighteen years old (18) and above sixty-five (65), and other protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT and the Local Government Unit of destination;

 

9. Religious gatherings shall be allowed up to ten percent (10%) of the venue capacity. Provided that, there is no objection from the local government unit where the religious gathering may take place. Provided, further, that the LGU may increase the allowable venue capacity up to thirty percent (30%). The religious denominations should strictly observe their submitted protocols and the minimum public health standards.

 

Gatherings for the necro -logical services, wakes, interment  and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed, provided that the same shall be limited to immediate family members, upon satisfactory proof of their relationship with the deceased and with full compliance with the prescribed minimum public health standards for the duration of the activity;

 

10. Other provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, affected by the foregoing shall continue to be in effect including those on interzonal travel into and out of the aforementioned areas and the operation of public transportation. The use of active transportation shall likewise be promoted.

 

The Provincial Government of Basilan with its LGUs appeal to the general public to continue observing standard health protocol and support the Bakunation Program of the government. As of October 13, 2021 Basilan Province recorded a total of 126 active cases of which 64 are in Isabela City. (NBE/EDT/NDR/PIA9-Basilan)