Cebu bars cross-border workers due to rise in coronavirus cases

CEBU CITY – Due to the continuing surge of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 cases in Cebu City, certain workers would no longer be allowed to cross the borders between the city and the province.

Mayors of 44 towns and seven cities in the province agreed in a meeting on Friday that those barred from entering the province are workers of grocery stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and food chains, and bakeries.

Affected establishments are expected to find a temporary home for their workers within Cebu City.

Those who will cross the borders to Cebu province will be escorted back to Cebu City.

The new policy will take effect on Tuesday, April 21.

Cebu City is an independent local government unit being a highly-urbanized city. It is bordered by Toledo City and Balamban in the west; Mandaue City in the north, and Talisay City in the south.

Cebu province has around seven access roads that lead to Cebu City. Some of these roads, however, will be closed so that there will be proper monitoring of the entry and exit points.

Garcia on Friday had a meeting with the mayors of the component towns and cities of the province to discuss measures amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City.

As of April 17, Cebu City has 161 individuals who tested positive for the dreaded virus. The Province of Cebu, on the other hand, only has three confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Exempted from the new measures that will be implemented by the provincial government include government officials, health personnel, police officers, and the military.

Delivery of goods will not be hampered but trucks will be limited to two people, including the driver.