PROVINCIAL government of Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Matungao town in Lanao del Norte and Mahinog in Camiguin temporarily stopped accepting returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) starting September 21 until October 4.

This after the Northern Mindanao Regional Inter-Agency Task Force has concurred with their request for them (LGUs) to properly attend to and accommodate the returning LSIs and ROFs.

Interior and Local Government regional department head director Arnel Agabe said the RIATF approved their requests in their meeting on September 16.

Misamis Occidental governor Philip Tan submitted a letter, dated September 3, appealing for the observance of a suspension in the transport of LSIs and ROFs for at least one week.

The response to the report of the Provincial Health Officer and due to the upsurge of new COVID-19 cases in the province attributable mostly to the LSIs and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) transported by air and shipping lines.

The said LGUs can temporarily stop the acceptance of LSIs from September 21 until October 4, according to Agabe.
During the Normin Covid-19 response task force press conference, Friday, (Sept 25), Agabe said the moratorium will allow the LGUs to decongest and expand their existing quarantine and isolation facilities amid the health crisis.

"The appeal for the moratorium on acceptance of LSIs and ROFs can now be approved by the RIATF," Agabe confirmed.

Department of Health (DOH)-10 regional director Dr. Adriano Suba-an reminded the public to avoid crowded places, close contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces.

“In the workplace, we have to consider the behavior of every individual, existence of the policy, and observance of the guidelines,” Suba-an further said.

He added that every worker must be responsible enough to follow the BIDA campaign, wear face masks and face shields, and observe regular hand washing.

“Handwashing is really the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and distancing is equally important," he said.

As of September 25, the region recorded a total of 2,510 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 1,520 of these have already recovered, 63 expired, and 927 are recovering.

In terms of the Critical Care Utilization Rate (CCUR), the region currently has 27.66 percent utilization of isolation beds, 10.0 percent utilization of mechanical ventilators, 28.89 percent utilization of ICU beds, 35.93 percent utilization of beds for severe and critical cases, and 48.36 percent utilization of COVID-19 wards, and the region has a case doubling time of 16 days. (Recthie Tolinero/PIA10)