The suspension of inbound travel of locally stranded individuals and returning overseas workers to Negros Occidental during the holidays, as requested by the provincial government, was approved by the Regional Inter Agency Task Force of Western Visayas.
The moratorium on the return of LSIs and ROFs on Dec. 24 and 25, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1, was requested by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, to allow them to decongest, disinfect, and prepare the quarantine facilities for the next batches of LSIs and ROFs.
As of Dec. 5, Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City, has 953 active cases out of 5,888 confirmed cases, with 4,804 recoveries and 131 deaths.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier advised Negrenses to come home early if they want to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays with their families.
Lacson reminded them that all those arriving in Negros Occidental will have to undergo COVID-19 swab testing, with results expected to be known three days after.
If they test negative, they will be allowed to go home, but if they are COVID positive, they will have to remain in quarantine, he added.
Meanwhile, the city government of San Carlos in Negros Occidental has modified its curfew hours, originally from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., to 12 midnight until 3 a.m. from Dec. 3 to Jan. 3 in line with the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The executive order, issued by Mayor Renato Gustilo, also allows minors to go out of their houses, provided they are accompanied by parents, or guardians, who are more than 21 years old. – GB
