BACOLOD CITY––Mayor Evelio Leonardia has prohibited all leisure travels between this city and Panay Island as a measure against the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Leonardia, in Executive Order 39-A, Series of 2021, said fully vaccinated Bacolod residents have to present a negative swab test result obtained within 72 hours before and upon arrival in Bacolod.
Leonardia said Department of Health officials had warned him about the two COVID-19 Delta variant cases in Panay.
Dr. Adriano Suba-an, Department of Health regional director, announced the detection of two local Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases in Western Visayas.
The cases involved an elderly couple from Antique who was hospitalized due to COVID-19 on May 27. The husband, who showed no symptoms, recovered, but the wife died on May 31.
Contact tracing is being conducted to prevent the spread of the highly contagious variant, said Dr. Glenn Alonsabe, DOH regional epidemiologist.
Bacolod is under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions, while Iloilo province and city are under enhanced community quarantine.
While leisure travel from Panay Island to Bacolod City will not be allowed, the movement of all types of goods and cargoes on delivery vehicles, with a maximum of five persons on board, will remain unhampered.
Only Authorized Persons Outside their Residences will be allowed to travel from Panay Island to or out of Bacolod City.
Those from GCQ and modified GCQ areas on Panay Island may be allowed entry to Bacolod provided they can present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test result obtained within 72 hours before and upon arrival in Bacolod City; an online BaCTrac registration; an online health declaration; S-PaSS or an innovative travel management system, where the public can access information on travel restrictions implemented by the local government; a travel coordination permit; and a valid ID.
lzb