TACLOBAN City - Some local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have temporarily banned the entry of locally stranded individuals following reports of local quarantine facilities reaching their full capacity due to the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

In Maasin City, Southern Leyte, the LGU has issued an advisory on the temporary suspension of acceptance of LSIs from September 7 to 21.

"The two-week suspension is intended to safeguard the health and welfare of the LSIs and to enable the taskforce and LGU Maasin to further improve their response to the health crisis."

It stressed the need for the suspension because all quarantine facilities in the city have reached their maximum capacity, and to give way to decongest and sanitize the facilities including vehicles.

"Our health workers, drivers, and frontliners are required to be subjected to RT-PCR test, which we require them to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine. Thus, no one can handle the transportation and operations of our quarantine facilities," the LGU said.

Psycho-social support will also be given to frontliners in order for them to be efficient in their service.

The local government of Sogod, also in Southern Leyte has also suspended the entry of LSIs from September 7 to 21 also because its quarantine facilities are full.

"The Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force would be conducting an assessment of all quarantine facilities to improve its habitable state and condition, and to be ready once the suspension is lifted," the LGU said in a statement.