TACLOBAN CITY (PNA) – The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (RIATF-EID) in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) has suspended the travel of locally stranded individuals (LSI) to Samar province for two weeks.
The moratorium, jointly approved by the Regional Task Force against Covid-19, took effect on September 30 and will be enforced until October 14.
In a statement on Friday, Minerva Molon, RIATF-EID-8 and Department of Health regional head, said this will allow front-liners and health workers to recuperate from the incessant coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response operations.
On September 25, the province passed a resolution requesting the RIATF to suspend the travel of LSIs until Oct. 8 upon recommendation from the towns of Almagro, Basey, Calbiga, Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Sta Rita, Tagapul-an, Talalora, Villareal, and the cities of Calbayog and Catbalogan.
Among the six provinces in Eastern Visayas, Samar has the most number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases with 1, 655, or 36.33 percent of the total reported cases in the region as of September 30.
Aside from Samar, the joint resolution also grants the same request to the local government units of Barugo in Leyte and Bontoc in Southern Leyte.
The towns of Barugo and Bontoc have 126 and 17 confirmed COVID-19 cases, respectively.