DUMAGUETE CITY -- The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in Negros Oriental enforced strict health and safety requirements for all authorized persons outside residence (APORs), or essential workers coming in from high-risk areas, to protect the province from the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a resolution issued by Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, it cited various incidents proving that the latest COVID-19 positive cases in the province came from APORs, and these have “put the community at risk”.
He added that the resolution urged concerned APORs to notify the province's IATF through their local offices here of the nature of their travel.
While APORs have the privilege of unrestricted movement, especially during emergency travel and indispensable travel as essential service workers, the IATF has also seen the need to protect the health, safety, and security of the general public by imposing local health and safety protocols.
The resolution included the following requirements for APORs on official business that must be enforced strictly; certificates of employment and work schedule, medical clearance, mission or travel orders identification card and person must submit to screening procedures with health declaration and locator forms.
APORS on emergency or indispensable travel, upon reaching the various borders entering the province, must submit travel authority, certificates of employment with ID, and reasons for travel indicating number of days of stay in the province.
Other guidelines included that if upon arrival the stay is less than 14 days, APORs shall not be allowed to go out from their place of residence and shall be required to undergo strict home quarantine protocols for the duration of his/her stay.
After the APORs have left to go back to their workstation, their family members must continue to undergo home quarantine to complete the 14-day standard quarantine period to be monitored by Barangay Health Emergency Team (BHERT).
If the APORs’ travel is not work-related, the guidelines on the local health safety protocols of the local government units will apply.
Failure to adhere to the set of requirements would result in the APORs being denied entry into the province’s borders.