Pampanga narrows passage for travelers from NCR

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The province remained on modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the second least restrictive form of lockdown in the country.

But Gov. Dennis Pineda imposed more controls to prevent the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant (formerly Indian) of SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19. At least four Delta cases had been recorded in the province.

Pineda’s Executive Order No. 17, which will take effect from Aug. 2 to 15, prohibits the entry of residents from the National Capital Region unless they show negative results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests made 48 hours before entry to Pampanga.

The EO, made in consultation with all 22 mayors, reactivated barangay checkpoints at the supervision of the police.

Pineda has also reimposed the 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew and liquor ban.

The EO required serious compliance with wearing of face mask and shield, physical distancing and hand washing.

Pineda ordered senior citizens and minors to stay at home, banned people from gathering on roads, prohibited social gatherings including family reunions.

Funeral wakes were limited to two nights and three days. Families can accept mourners to fill 50 percent capacity of venues.

Workers and others classified as authorized to be outside residences are allowed to leave their homes.

In the second wave of COVID-19 cases, 14,000 people in the province were infected between May and June. Three of the four Delta variant cases were found in returning overseas Filipinos.

The governor announced that vaccination against SARS Cov2 is being brought to the barangay level.

Pineda asked for the cooperation of the public, saying the battle against COVID-19 still needed their support.

TSB