The Guimaras Provincial Government is strictly monitoring the movement of people within the island province as its cases COVID-19 continue to rise.

Guimaras recorded 53 new cases on September 14, bringing the province’s total case count to 2,425.

Fifteen of the new cases are from the town of San Lorenzo, 11 from Nueva Valencia, 10 from Jordan, eight from Buenavista, and five from Sibunag.

Of the total COVID-19 cases, 1,949 habe recovered, 83 have died, and 393 are classified as active or still infected with infected with Sars-CoV-2, the virus causes COVID-19.

Nueva Valencia accounted for the highest number of active cases at 122, followed by Buenavista and San Lorenzo with 92 each; Sibunag, 44; and Jordan, 43.

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Gumarin released an executive order that aims primarily to restrict movement of persons within the province amid the continued spike of cases.

“Ang new EO is the embodiment of the collective action of the provincial government as a whole which limit the movement of the public,” said Gumarin.

Under the EO, the operating hours of establishments in the island shall be shortened and the conduct of activities deemed to cause the further spread of the virus shall be restricted.

Gumarin emphasized that while the province is under general community quarantine (GCQ), it is still considered by the Department of Health as “high risk” for COVID-19. The province’s hospital care utilization rate is at “critical risk”.

“Only highly essential travels going into and outside Guimaras shall be allowed. Leisure travels are still suspended. All business establishments are allowed to open except those that are engaged in leisure activities such as but not limited to recreation centers, videoke/karaoke bars, billiard centers, tourism destinations and computer shops,” the EO stated.

Returning or visiting persons coming from outside Western Visayas who are not fully vaccinated shall present a negative RT-PCR test before they can be allowed entry into the island. The test must be conducted three days before the travel date. Those who are completely vaccinated shall be allowed entry into the island upon presentation of their vaccination card.IMT