TACLOBAN City - Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda ordered a 48-hour hard border lockdown on Borongan City from August 8-10.
"All travels to and from Borongan City, Eastern Samar shall be temporarily prohibited except for the delivery of essential goods and services subject to strict compliance with the minimum health standard protocols," the mayor directed in an executive order released Friday, August 7.
He added that all persons exempted from the restrictions shall be subject to triage, and must present their medical certificate and travel authority.
Agda explained that the lockdown aims to give way to disease surveillance and contact tracing of possible close contacts in the city following the confirmation of five fresh coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Eastern Samar province.
One of the patients coming from Llorente town was admitted at the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital in Borongan.
On the other hand, Llorente Mayor Daniel Boco also expressed his frustration over the lack of confirmation or coordination with the local government unit on a returning locally stranded individuals (LSI) who contracted the infection.
"This individual rode the Hatid Tulong or Hatid COVID Program of the government...He was sent home without a clear medical certificate because he even had multiple stab wounds in his back which caused his fever," he lamented.
Boco urged returning residents to strictly follow the health protocols because there were health workers who have been exposed, and are now isolated for 14 days.
Meanwhile, the official assured that the isolation of health workers was only a preventive measure because they were in full personal protective equipment while handling the patient.