Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has signed an executive order placing Cebu province under general community quarantine (GCQ) which took effect on Wednesday.
Although the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed Cebu province under “GCQ with heightened restrictions”, Garcia signed EO No. 41, released on Tuesday night, defining the protocols to be followed by the residents within the province under GCQ classification.
Garcia said she placed the province under regular GCQ because the cities of Cebu and Mandaue were placed under this classification.
“It is not logical or sensible to have a different classification unless they forgot that we are on the same island,” Garcia said in a press conference.
Based on the IATF guidelines, areas placed under GCQ with heightened restrictions allowed indoor dining at 20 percent seating capacity while al fresco or outdoor dining are permitted at 50 percent capacity.
Under the sub-classification of the GCQ, tourism-related activities may also open at 30 percent capacity.
However, in the order, Garcia said “[a]ll establishments not permitted to operate during ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) shall be allowed to operate at a 50 percent on-site capacity”.
But the governor required restaurants, spas, salons, parlors, and other personal establishments to ensure proper ventilation with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and ionizer which must be installed proportionate to the floor area and ensured regular cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization using ultraviolet germicidal light after business hours.
“Local chief executives are permitted to lower the venue capacity of the concerned establishments depending on Covid-19 situation in their jurisdiction and as the need arises,” the EO read.
It also required all workers to wear facemasks and personal air purifiers “at all times”.
Based on the EO, tourist attractions and activities must follow the previous issuances that put in place additional measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Under EO No. 13, the province required the use of HEPA filter and ionizer in tourism-related establishments and regulate the number of tourists per activity to five with two guides while EO-20-A required pre-booking and prohibited walk-in customers.
Religious gatherings in the province are allowed up to 50 percent capacity per venue but burial services are permitted up to 30 percent and 10 percent at memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaries.
With the GCQ status, the province only allowed non-airconditioned passenger vehicles and required drivers and conductors to wear a face mask and air purifiers at all times.
Source: Philippines News Agency
