ANTI-COVID MEETING. Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla (standing) presides over a meeting of the provincial inter-agency task force on Covid-19 with Palo Mayor Frances Ann Petilla on Tuesday (April 14, 2020). The task force has approved the extension of the general community quarantine in Leyte until April 30. (Photo courtesy of Leyte provincial government)

PALO, Leyte – Leyte’s provincial inter-agency task force on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) approved on Tuesday the extension of the general community quarantine in the entire province to April 30.

Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said the province would be stricter on border control, particularly in coastal towns with easy access to Samar province, which has recorded three confirmed Covid-19 patients.

Petilla has yet to issue a new executive order.

He previously placed Leyte under general community quarantine (GCQ) from March 16 to April 17.

The province has established 12 seaport border patrols, including the checkpoint in Babatngon town for the Samar-Babatngon sea route.

Petilla noted that the extended GCQ would disallow the entry of Leyte residents to the province if they work in regions with confirmed Covid-19 cases.

 He also ordered all mayors of the province to strictly enforce the mandatory wearing of face masks in public.

“Mandatory wearing of face masks when going to a public place is our fallback when there are lapses at our borders because checkpoints will not eliminate but only reduce the risks,” Petilla explained.

Using alcohol and hand sanitizers will also help reduce the risk of getting infected by the disease, he said.

Although the provincial government has imposed quarantine protocols in the province, movement within Leyte has not been restricted to allow the efficient flow or delivery of goods.

He added that the EO also allows projects or construction works funded by the national and local governments and the private sector to resume to ease the impact of Covid-19 on the local economy.

Meanwhile, in Palo town, Mayor Frances Ann Petilla, the governor’s sister-in-law, also extended the GCQ to April 30 by issuing EO 16 on Tuesday.

The town’s GCQ, which was supposed to end on April 14, prohibits large gatherings, suspends classes, enforces curfew hours from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., and closes non-essential businesses temporarily.

“All village chiefs and health workers are directed to report to the municipal health officer for proper action any person manifesting symptoms associated with Covid-19,” she said.

Repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW) arriving in Palo will be subjected to mandatory quarantine in a facility prepared by the local government.

Palo, with a population of 70,052 people, is the closest town to Tacloban City, the regional capital. (PNA)