Northern Samar province has joined other local government units in restricting the movement of unvaccinated persons due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Governor Edwin Ongchuan issued Executive Order No. 01-01-22 on Monday directing establishments to deny the entry of unvaccinated individuals in both public and private establishments.
Specifically, unvaccinated persons are prohibited from dining in restaurants and other food establishments; leisure or social trips to malls, hotels, event venues, gyms, and similar activities; domestic travel via public transportation by land, water, or air, except for essential goods and services, for medical emergencies or to undergo routine medical procedures.
In his order, the governor asked all public and private establishments to put up a “No Vaccination Card, No Entry” sign at the entrance in addition to their existing Covid-19 protocols.
All persons are required to present their vaccination cards before entering an establishment and their valid identification cards.
Employed unvaccinated individuals will be asked to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTC-PCR ) test result every two weeks at their expense before they will be admitted for work.
Unvaccinated will also be denied access to cockpit arenas or in any other similar establishments.
“In a separate order, vaccinated individuals who intend to travel to and from Northern Samar shall be allowed to present the original copy of their vaccination card issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, or a certificate of quarantine completion showing the holder’s vaccination status as may be issued by the Bureau of Quarantine whichever is applicable, in lieu of a negative RT-PCR test result,” the governor stated.
Travelers who fail to present the original copy of their vaccination card or certificate of quarantine completion will be considered unvaccinated and will be subjected to strict home quarantine or community quarantine protocols upon arrival.
Those coming from high-risk areas as determined by the inter-agency task force will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test result unless they are fully vaccinated.
All returning residents will be required to undergo Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PASS) registration before entering the province.
The local police will lead in the implementation of these rules, in coordination with the town and village officials.
Individuals or establishments violating these protocols will be prosecuted.
Since the pandemic broke out, Northern Samar has already recorded 4,165 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 3,890 recoveries, and 99 deaths.
The province has 17 active cases as of January 14.
Source: Philippines News Agency
