Digos City gov’t imposes liquor ban anew

DIGOS CITY – The local government here has re-imposed the liquor ban, lengthened the curfew hours, and limited the movement of people during Sundays from August 1 up to 15.

Mayor Josef Cagas issued the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Guidelines and Advisory No. 13 on July 30 as additional preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease following a sudden spike of confirmed cases here.

Beginning Saturday, the curfew hours will be from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., and extension from the original schedule of 9 p.m- to 5 a.m., and the 24/7 liquor ban will be imposed anew.

The liquor ban prohibits all persons and establishments to sell, buy, offer or serve liquor of any kind, including small sari-sari stories in the barangays.

During curfew hours, all movements of persons are prohibited, except in emergency cases, or when reporting for work. Business establishments exempted from the curfew hours include hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, gasoline stations, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and funeral homes.

Certain businesses are also prohibited from opening on Sundays, except for hospitals, pharmacies, drugstores, other health services, convenience stores, sari-sari stores, public utilities, and mass media outlets.

Social or mass gatherings are also prohibited from August 1 to 15, although religious services may be conducted but should be limited to 50 percent of the seating or venue capacity.

Cagas had asked the residents for understanding and cooperation, especially residents who are subject to the contract tracing activities of the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit.

As of July 31, Digos City had 23 COVID-19 cases, 17 of whom have recovered, while active cases stood at six, with zero fatality.