Shopping malls and other “non-essential” establishments in General Santos City will temporarily cease to operate starting Tuesday (May 25, 2021) as the city is reverting to the stricter general community quarantine (GCQ) until June 30 due to the “massive community transmission” of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In an executive order issued Monday afternoon, Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the restriction of movement of residents aims to minimize person-to-person contact in the wake of the rising cases of the disease in the area.
The GCQ declaration, he said, was based on the assessment and consultations with various offices conducted by the City Inter-Agency Task Force (CIATF) for the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, following reports from local hospitals catering to Covid-19 patients that they have already reached their full capacity as of Sunday.
“Our neighboring localities are also experiencing the same situation and this is very difficult for all of us,” he said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
Under Rivera’s directive, existing measures such as the border lockdown, “no movement Sunday” and the total liquor ban in all public places will remain in effect, with additional restrictions to ensure proper compliance.
Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, city administrator, said the majority of the businesses and industries in the area may continue to operate based on the guidelines set by the national IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases but with some limitations.
He said businesses are encouraged to implement alternative work arrangements if their operations will allow.
Shopping malls, except for their grocery sections, will be closed down while food-related establishments such as restaurants, fast food outlets, and eateries are only allowed to accept orders for “take-out and delivery, he said.”
“Our general campaign is for people to stay home if they have nothing to do that are essential,” he said.
Zapatos said the city’s 26 barangays will be divided anew into three clusters to limit the movement of people, including public and private transportation, he said.
He said each cluster is allotted two days each week, except on Sundays, to access food and other essential supplies.
The curfew hours will continue from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. while the total liquor ban is extended until June 30.
Border entries are only allowed for essential travel and all travelers coming from areas outside of Region 12 (Soccksargen) who will be required to submit negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results for Covid-19 starting June 1.
Wakes, including the processing of related documents, are allowed up to five days but should be limited to not more than 10 people.
Other mass gatherings, including religious services and other activities involving more than 10 persons, are prohibited. Masses and church services should be conducted online.
Zapatos said the mayor instructed the barangays and the city police to monitor and enforce the additional restrictions in local communities.
He said data showed that aside from essential workers, the high Covid-19 transmission rate was traced to parties and similar gatherings.
The official said the additional restrictions are intended to break the chain of Covid-19 infection in the communities and at the same time keep the city’s economy open “as much as possible.”
“We’ve been trying to balance our health situation with our economy. But we also don’t want to reach the point wherein our hospitals would be forced to choose who to admit because of the lack of available resources,” he said.
Zapatos said Rivera consulted National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez regarding the matter.
As of Sunday noon, the city government said all allotted beds for Covid-19 patients are already 100 percent occupied while the intensive care unit facilities were over the critical threshold due to the continuing spike in new infections.
The city recorded 37 new cases as of 6 p.m. Monday, bringing its active infections to 560, the highest among cities and municipalities in Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
The confirmed cases in the area since last year already reached a total of 3,311, with 108 deaths and 2,643 recoveries. (PNA)
