Negros Occidental will remain under Modified General Community Quarantine this December, as a continued deterrent against COVID-19.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson this afternoon, November 30, issued Executive Order No. 20-52, Series of 2020, extending the MGCQ over Negros Occidental until 11:59 p.m. of December 30.
The province has been under MGCQ since June.
Lascon said because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country there is still a need to place Negros Occidental under MGCQ.
COVID-19 has hit 5,752 persons in Negros Occidental and killed 125, while 4,644 have recovered and 983 are active cases, the Department of Health 6 reported today, November 30.
The EO also outlines the health protocols and travel guidelines for Authorized Persons Outside their Residence and non APORs.
All APORs travelling to Negros Occidental must submit to swabbing for Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for COVID-19 on entry into the province and undergo company quarantine.
They will only be allowed to perform official work in the province after the release of their negative RT-PCR test results.
APORs who frequently travel to the province must file health information forms and company information, present itinerary of travel, and submit at least one negative RT-PCR test result a month, the EO added.
All non APORs travelling to the province will be swabbed for RT-PCR tests and quarantined, the EO also said.
All non APORs passing through Negros Occidental must present travel authority, a notice of coordination from LGU of destination, notice of border control, and must travel in private vehicles. No public transportation will be allowed, the EO said.
The EO also outlines regulations for air and sea travel.
Each airline is allowed only one Bacolod-Cebu-Bacolod flight per week, and two Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights per week, the EO said.
Only 199 passengers are allowed per flight.
The EO also states that there will be a moratorium on flights to the Bacolod Silay Airport on December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1.
National highways in Negros Occidental will be open, except for provincial border control, it said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 has hit 5,384 persons in Bacolod City and killed 162, while 4,935 have recovered and 287 are active cases, the DOH 6 reported today, November 30.*