Mayor Sun J. Shimura presided at the joint emergency meeting of the Local Health Board and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council today, March 16, 2020 to address the growing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns. It can be recalled that as early as January, the local government unit is already proactive in its efforts to combat the spread of the virus thru the issuance of executive orders, memorandums and enforcement of mitigation measures. Today’s meeting focused on tougher measures to maximize public health which is in consonance with Cebu Provincial Government’s directives aimed at averting a possible spread of the deadly COVID-19. Salient points of the meeting are as follows:
–The Municipality of Daanbantayan has declared a state of public health emergency because of the deepening concerns about possible spread of coronavirus disease 2019;
–All foreign nationals are required to undergo 14 days mandatory quarantine from their arrival date at a hotel or resort of their stay or at the municipality’s designated quarantine facility. While on quarantine, they are strictly not allowed to engage in extra-curricular activities.
–Cancellation of social gatherings, assemblies, meetings, cockfighting, videoke and internet café operations;
–Creation of Inter-agency Task Force on COVID-19 with Mayor as Chair, Municipal Health Officer and Daanbantayan Chief of Police as Co-Chairs, with barangay captains, coast guard, PNP, DepEd I and II, AFP, and SB Chair on Committee on Health as Members;
–A task force has been created to conduct price monitoring of basic goods and commodities to ensure that no business establishment will take advantage of the situation;
–Lamberto R. Te Cultural Center in Poblacion, Daanbantayan is the designated Quarantine Facility for foreign nationals, OFWs and repatriates.
–OFWs and repatriates immediately upon arrival in Daanbantayan need to undergo home quarantine for 14 days, under the monitoring of the municipal health office and barangay concerned. In the absence of an isolation room in their house, he/she will be placed in the designated quarantine facility at Lamberto R. Te Cultural Center.
