DOH puts CamSur on Covid-19 Alert Level 4
By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay
From Alert Level 2, the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol raised Camarines Sur’s Covid-19 classification to Alert Level 4 denoting an upsurge in the number of Camarinenses being infected by the highly contagious virus during the past few months.
This prompted Camarines Sur Gov. Miguel Luis Villafuerte to issue Executive Order (EO) No. 12, placing 28 municipalities and Iriga City under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) for the period of 15 days, starting Sept. 16 to Sept. 30.
Placed under GCQ are the towns of: Canaman; Lagonoy; San Jose; Baao; Bombon; Calabanga; Lupi; Nabua; Goa; Libmanan; Pasacao; Pili; Ocampo; Bato; Balatan; Buhi; Camaligan; Milaor;Minalabac; Pamplona; Tigaon; Bula; Caramoan; Magarao; Presentacion; Ragay; Sipocot; Tinambac; and Iriga City.
The rest of the towns in the province remain under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
In a press release issued Sept.8, DOH Bicol confirmed the presence of 50 cases of Covid-19 Variants of Concern (VOC) such as Alpha, Beta and Delta in the province. As of Aug.28, 24 Camarines Sur towns were classified high to critical risk while 15 towns recorded cases of Covid-19 VOC.
DOH’s classification was based on the daily reported cases of persons tested positive for Covid-19 in the province.
Camarines Sur has recorded 266 Covid-29 cases on Sept. 17, the highest since Sept. 1. The second highest was on Sept. 12 with 207 new cases.
For September, the province has been recording a 3-digit statistics of Covid-29 cases during the past weeks: 151 on Sept.5; 125 on Sept.9; 105 on Sept. 13; 191 on Sept. 14; 162 on Sept. 15; 156 on Sept. 18; and 174 on Sept.19.
Travel Requirements
Specifically stipulated under Section 4 of EO 12 are the documentary requirements for those who intend to enter the province of Camarines Sur.
Upon entry at the border and airport, all travelers must present a valid ID reflecting their residence address and a negative RT-PCR test. Its validity is two days or 48 hours prior to the conduct of the test from the date of arrival in the province.
Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) from national government agencies and their attached agencies must also secure the following documents: identification card, travel order, and travel itinerary.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) also deployed additional personnel at the Camarines Sur-Quezon border in Del Gallego town to conduct the necessary inspection procedures.
The EO stated that “all travelers shall be assessed and their temperature shall be taken. Passengers who are exhibiting symptoms and/or who tested positive thru the antigen test, if conducted, shall undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine. They shall also report to the BHERT upon arrival to their respective barangay for monitoring and proper disposition. Report of arrival should be reported to the respective provincial and municipal Covid-19 Incident Management Team (IMT) thru text messages/messenger daily.”
The provincial government also imposed curfew hours from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM for non-workers. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)