BANAUE, Ifugao – Two local government units here have strengthened their preemptive measures against the coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19).
Mayor Wesley Dulawan of Banaue ordered a cancellation of the town fiesta scheduled in April and for all Overseas Filipino Workers travelers, tourists, guides, churches, schools, organizations, cooperatives, restaurants and eateries, hotels and lodges, clinics and hospitals to observe the guidelines issued by the Department of Health on the Covid-19.
Those who do not exhibit any sign or symptoms but have history of travel to other areas or history of exposure to a person confirmed to have been affected by the Covid-19 in the past 14 days shall be required to undergo home quarantine.
Those who exhibit fever or any symptom of lower respiratory illness and have a history of travel to countries with confirmed Covid-19 cases shall also undergo monitored home quarantine.
People were also urged to observe proper sneezing and coughing etiquette, obtain information only from verified sources, wash hands properly and frequently with soap and water, eat nutritious food and stay healthy, refrain from going to crowd drawing events, only use face mask if necessary, and not to eat uncooked meat.
Kiangan Mayor Raldis Bulayungan issued a memorandum to all homestay owners and accommodation establishments and public conveyances operators and drivers to implement measures to prevent local transmission of the Covid-19.
He enjoined them to sanitize frequently-touched surfaces like tables, chairs, door knobs, doors, and handrails at least twice a day and to make available disinfectants like alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizers or water and soap in accessible areas for clients and employees.
Accommodation establishments should not to accept or book guests from Covid-19-affected countries until the state of public health emergency is lifted or until further advice from his office.
The transport group should have a list of passengers for every trip of each bus or van leaving and arriving in Kiangan to facilitate contact tracing when needed.
Bulayungan also ordered the Kiangan Anti-Covid Task Force to conduct massive information campaign and sought the cooperation of tricycle drivers and public conveyances operators and drivers and local government offices to help prevent local transmission.
The Kiangan LGU earlier urged those abroad who are planning to come home to postpone their trips and to all balikbayans to observe home quarantine. – Dan B. Codamon
April 26, 2024
