Catanduanes eases rules for fully vaxxed travelers

By Connie Calipay

The Catanduanes provincial government has now allowed fully vaccinated travelers to enter the island province and it removed the required negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), saliva or antigen test results for Covid-19.

Executive Order (EO) No. 44 issued by Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua took effect on Dec. 6.

The EO No. 44 provides that travelers will only need to present a vaccination card and approved S-PaSS (Safe, Swift and Smart Passage) to gain entry to the province.

The order added, however, that those partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals shall still be required to present a negative RT-PCR test or antigen test result dated three days prior to the date of travel.

Meanwhile, activities shall now be allowed at establishments at a maximum of 50 percent capacity for indoor venues for fully vaccinated individuals and 70 percent for outdoor venues.

Permitted to operate are venues for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibits, social events such as wedding receptions, engagement and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal and baby showers.

Libraries, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints, and amusement parks or theme parks have likewise been permitted to open.

Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and cinema, and movie houses have been allowed to operate, too.

On the other hand, limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education and higher education and technical-vocational education, and training are subject to prior approval.

Dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries will be under the supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Government offices may operate with 80 percent onsite capacity, as well as hotels and other accommodation establishments with Department of Tourism (DOT) accreditation.

"In all foregoing activities in said establishments, all workers or employees must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19," Cua’s order said. (PNA)