Legazpi imposes stricter Covid-19 restrictions

By Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY --- Alarmed by the rising cases of Covid-19 infection here, the city’s Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) on Tuesday, Apr. 13 imposed stricter restriction on the movement of residents in villages as a health measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

As of Monday, Apr. 12, the city has recorded eight cases in six urban barangays, which brought to 51 the total active cases in the city.

The Legazpi City tracker showed that since March last year, the city has a total of 560 cumulative cases, with 488 recoveries and 19 deaths.

Mayor Noel Rosal issued a directive to the city’s 70 barangay officials to impose anew the establishment of checkpoint in all villages to prevent the entry of non-residents except for people bringing in essential commodities.

“Wala munang bisita (no visitors would be allowed) in various villages to prevent virus infections to spread, even during village fiesta or events that require mass gathering,” Rosal said.

The other restriction includes the imposition of six-hour daily curfew from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM.

To strictly implement the measures, the city government has issued to village officials and policemen citation tickets penalizing local residents who will violate health protocols like not wearing masks, face shields, social distancing, joining mass gatherings, curfew, and loitering.

Violators face a fine of P2,000 for 1st offense, P3,000 for 2nd offense, P4,000 for 3rd offense, and P5,000 for the 4th offense plus imprisonment.

Rosal urged residents to be more vigilant in the fight against Covid-19 by following the health protocols.

He warned that the rising cases of Covid-19 in the city may prompt the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol to classify the city as a high-risk area and it may be placed under the category of General Community Quarantine.

Under the DOH risk assessment classification, Legazpi City is currently a low-risk area. It is presently under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).