Koronadal City under community quarantine vs COVID-19 scare
While the city has remained COVID-19 free, City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena placed the City of Koronadal on general community quarantine to avert the spread of coronavirus.
Ordinance No. 5 signed on Thursday, March 19 is “effective immediately,” and will take effect until April 20.
Among the guidelines laid out in the order includes the movement outside of households would be limited to accessing basic necessities only.
Under the same ordinance, flexible working arrangements was also encouraged between employer and employees.
The order noted that public markets, groceries, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and drug stores, food preparation and delivery services, water refilling stations, manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines, banks, cooperatives, money transfer services and power, energy, water and telecommunications services could still operate provided that skeletal workforces are at the post.
Transit to and from any establishments within the city is only allowed for purposes of emergency, purchasing and or payment only.
Also, City-wide curfew is implemented from 7 o’clock in the evening to 5 o’clock in the morning. Exempted are those people involved in medical emergencies.
Meanwhile, the city government also ordered the strict implementation of protocols at all checkpoints established within the city borders.
Quarantine checkpoints have been set up in five (5) major entry and exit points in the entire City of Koronadal to closely check on residents and transients coming from neighboring areas.
Anyone entering the city will be thoroughly check, and anyone who will exhibit abnormal body temperature will be denied and endorsed to the nearest health offices or hospitals for further medical assessment and recommendation.
Apart from these measures, the 27 Barangay officials also took the initiative by facilitating the distribution of quarantine pass to each barangay household. Moreover, Barangay Health Emergency Teams (BHERTs) ordered to monitor their constituents for possible contractions of COVID-19.
For non-cooperation and violation of any rules and guidelines, a fine of P1,000 (first offense) up to P5,000 (succeeding offenses) and an imprisonment of 1 month to 5 months will be imposed. However, businesses and establishments caught violating the law will be subjected to the revocation of permits.