Masbate restricts travel due to Delta variant

LEGAZPI CITY—The Masbate Inter-Agency Task Force imposed travel restrictions on the island province to prevent the entry of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.

In an executive order issued Wednesday, Gov. Antonio Kho said no individual should enter or leave the province from Aug. 12 to 19, except for the Authorized Persons Outside Residence.

Kho said the movement of all persons is limited to accessing goods and services and other activities allowed under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status.

He said that the movement of cargoes or delivery of services would be unhampered.

The province would also implement a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Persons below 15 years of age and over 65 years old, with comorbidities, and pregnant women should stay home.

Entertainment venues, playgrounds, and cockpits are not permitted to operate even if the province is under MGCQ, the least restrictive form of quarantine.

Only hotels and accommodation establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism could accept guests with legitimate purposes.

On Aug. 5, the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol recorded two cases of Delta variant in Legazpi City in Albay and Nabua town in Camarines Sur.

On Wednesday, the DOH recorded six new cases of COVID-19 in Albay, five in Catanduanes, 16 in Sorsogon, 34 in Camarines Sur, and 50 in Masbate.

Masbate has had 2,144 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began last year. Fifty are still sick.

As of Aug. 11, Bicol has logged 22,287 cases since March last year, with 18,466 recoveries and 850 deaths. INQ

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