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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Cebu City may re-implement swab test for arriving NCR passengers

Cebu City may re-implement swab test for arriving NCR passengers

Published Jan 3, 2022 08:00 pm

CEBU CITY —This city may once again require the presentation of a negative result of COVID-19 test for passengers arriving from the National Capital Region (NCR).

The possibility of re-implementing the stricter travel protocol came after the NCR reverted to Alert Level 3 due to the rising COVID-19 cases there that may have been sparked by the more transmissible Omicron variant of the virus.

While the city has yet to record a COVID-19 case with Omicron variant, it is better to enforce measures to prevent its entry, City Mayor Michael Rama said on Monday, Jan. 3.

“Being fully vaccinated is not a guarantee (not to get the virus). We will check whether RT-PCR or whatever other requirement that may bring a certain level of comfort for Cebu City," Rama said.

Rama said measures meant to prevent the entry of Omicron into the city will be contained in an Executive Order that he will soon issue.

Rama said he is hoping that the tri-cities, Lapu, Cebu and Mandaue, as well as the province of Cebu could come up with a common approach to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant in Metro Cebu.

The mayor said Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia could lead what he called "One Island Approach" in dealing with the threat posed by the new variant.

“We have to be very strict," Rama said.

Councilor Joel Garganera, chief of the city's Emergency Operations Center Cebu City, said the city will intensify its vaccination drive and will ensure the readiness of the city's Temporary Treatment Management Facility in preparation against the highly infectious variant.

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