Tagaytay exacts stricter social rules to curb COVID-19 spread

LUCENA CITY –– The city government of Tagaytay in Cavite province has imposed stricter social regulations to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In an order issued Monday, March 8, Mayor Agnes Tolentino reminded residents that social gatherings like weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and other similar affairs should be limited only to family members.

“The event should last only for two hours,” Tolentino said in her two-page advisory, a copy of which was posted on the local government’s Facebook page. She emphasized that all attendees should wear face masks and face shields and strictly observe physical distancing at all times.

Tolentino has also ordered that wakes should last only for three days to be attended only by immediate family members, who should observe health and safety protocols.

But, if the deceased died from COVID-19, the body should be immediately cremated based on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases protocols.

All public fiesta celebrations are temporarily prohibited during the pandemic. The use of videoke is also not allowed.

Tolentino tasked all authorities and barangay officials to strictly implement in their respective areas all rules and regulations imposed by the local government to safeguard the public from COVID-19. All violators will be dealt with corresponding punishment.

Tagaytay, which is on modified general community quarantine, has recorded nine new validated COVID-19 patients Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 283 since the pandemic was declared in March last year.

At least 269 of these have recovered, while the other seven succumbed to the dreaded illness. The city still has 16 active virus carriers.

As of March 7, Cavite province, which is under the modified general community quarantine status, has logged 21,129 COVID-19 cases, with 19,280 recoveries, and 571 fatalities since March last year.

The province still has 1,281 active virus carriers.

The Department of Health has allocated 2,723 doses of Sinovac vaccines for Cavite.

The vaccines from the national government will be distributed to the General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital in Trece Martirez City (900), “Ospital ng Imus” in Imus town (294), and De La Salle University Medical Center in Dasmariñas City (1,529).

Local authorities have yet to announce the schedule for the vaccine roll-out in the province.

The Cavite government has allotted P750 million to buy COVID-19 vaccines for its more than 1.5 million residents.

LZB