By Nel Andrade
CAINTA, RIZAL- Cancellation of church services, and restriction of entry and exit in the entire municipality will be just a few of the changes that residents here would have to bear for the duration of the community quarantine that the local government has imposed, based on the guidance of the Task Force that is in charge in the handling of situation in relation to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The local government, through Mayor Johnielle Keith Nieto, has issued a 12-point quarantine guidelines that will be enforced effective March 15 in the entire town.
In the guidelines, it was stated that travel within the town by the residents will allowed, but with restraints on gatherings or meetings that “do not appear to be urgent or critical in nature”.
Social distancing among the participants would be required should meetings become necessary.
Boundaries of the town with other municipalities will be manned by police and military personnel, who will require from those working in Cainta that they present their company identification card or a proof of one’s intention to report for work or a certification of employment from his or her employer.
Private sector companies are also required to sanitize their work places and present documentation of their sanitation activities to authorities, and equipped the workers with required masks, alcohol and disinfectants. Companies are encouraged to adopt a 4-day work week schedule or a work at home scheme during the duration of the quarantine period.
Passengers of passing-through vehicles commuting from and to neighboring local towns and cities will be subjected to thermal scanning at the town’s borders.
Passengers and drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) will be required to wear face masks, have sanitizers ready in the vehicle, and practice social distancing.
As all religious, civic and social gatherings and public events are prohibited, the celebration of masses in the municipality has been temporarily cancelled including services in chapels of sub parishes. Prior approval from the local government unit is required should the gatherings are are necessary in nature.