TACLOBAN CITY – The modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status in Borongan City was lifted last Sunday (June 4).

As he lifted the quarantine status, made due to the increasing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda set new general protocols that the residents and those visiting the city to strictly observe.

The new guidelines still orders all city residents to strictly observe the minimum health standard which includes proper wearing of face masks and face shield, and observing physical distancing.

Curfew is also implemented from 10 pm until 4:00 am the following day.

Restaurants and food establishments may now accept dine-in services provided that they will comply to the minimum health protocols, and 50 percent capacity and while drinking liquors is allowed, costumers are only limited to a maximum of two servings.

Establishments that were prohibited to operate during the MECQ may now resume operation but must strictly enforce the no face masks, no face shields, no QR code, no entry policy.

All tourists site in the city may now also resume their operations subject to observance of the minimum health protocols, including religious activities.

Contact sports including basketball, soccer or football and frisbee are still prohibited under the new quarantine status.

Meanwhile non-residents who will visit the city still need to present a negative RT-PCR swab test or saliva test with three days validity prior to their arrival, QR code, and valid identification card.

Those who will fail to present a negative RT-PCR will be subjected to a 10-day home quarantine and on the 7th day will undergo an antigen test shouldered by the subject and to be administered by the City Health Office.

Travelers from the region will only need to present QR code, and valid identification card.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)