Tourists temporarily banned in Aurora to thwart COVID-19 transmission

Acting Gov. Christian Noveras banned the entry of tourists and non-residents into Aurora province to prevent the transmission of the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

Noveras said exempted from the travel ban are those who would deliver food and non-food supplies, which are considered basic commodities, provided they observe strict preventive measures. These supplies would be inspected at the entry points, he said.

Also exempted from the ban are non-residents who would provide the basic services and public utilities, non-residents who are government employees or officials who have authorized transactions in the province.

Those traveling for medical and humanitarian purposes will also be allowed entry into the province, Noveras said.

Noveras had also temporarily suspended all tourism activities in Aurora.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, which outbreak started in China’s Wuhan City in Hube province in late 2019.

People who have COVID-19 could recover since for most people, its symptoms were mild like fever and cough. But the illness could also be worse or serious for others such as pneumonia, especially for older adults and those with existing health problems.

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic as it has infected more than 150,000 people and killed over 5,000 all over the world. The Philippines has so far confirmed 140 people with COVID-19, including 11 deaths.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency throughout the country and placed the entire Metro Manila under “community quarantine” from March 15 to April 14, 2020, due to COVID-19.