Olongapo City. (Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot)
OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines — Olongapo City will still welcome its returning residents amid the stricter protocols being implemented in high-risk areas to contain the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. announced on Tuesday (Aug. 3).
Olongapo is currently under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Paulino said the local government would take all necessary precautions against the more transmissible Delta variant.
He said strict border controls in the city’s borders would assure that tourists from areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) would not be allowed entry into the city
Olongapo residents coming from an area with known transmission of the Delta variant would still be allowed entry as long as they inform their respective barangay ahead of their scheduled return to the city, Paulino said, adding that they would have to undergo a 14-day home quarantine.
But if the returning residents will come from areas without known transmission of the Delta variant, only 10 days of home quarantine will be required.
The mayor also discouraged social gatherings and prohibited persons below 15-years-old and above and those with comorbidities to go outside their homes except for those who would need to access essential goods and services.