The Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force has placed Cagayan de Oro and the rest of Region 10 under a modified general community quarantine effective June 1-15 as the government moved to further ease restrictions in an effort to rejuvenate the economy.
Mayor Oscar Moreno, however, said the city will continue observing curfew hours and other public health safety rules and practices to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.
Moreno said the "minimum public health standards" will remain the same despite the IATF's move to place Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, and Lanao del Norte in Region 10 under a modified general community quarantine effective next month. The IATF's move is contained in its Resolution No. 40.
Moreno said the rule on barangay exit passes, wearing of face masks, and physical distancing will continue to be implemented in the city.
He said Cagayan de Oro cannot be complacent and should remain cautious despite the IATF decision to allow more establishments to re-open.
“Kung dili importante ang lakaw puyo lang gyud gihapon sa balay, dili magkumpiyansa,” Moreno said.
Based on the IATF resolution, barbershops, salons, spa, massage parlors, amusement, gaming and fitness establishments, among others, may resume opetations at 50-percent capacity.
Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said it will reinvigorate its implementation of security measures as the city prepares to transition to a modified general community quarantine next month.
Cocpo spokesman Maj. Evan Viñas said city police director Col. Henry Dampal has ordered all police station commanders and heads of special units in the city to beef up the implementation of security measures.
“We will reinvigorate the strict implementation of the curfew hours, wearing of face mask in public, social distancing, and the (rule on) barangay exit pass,” Viñas.
He said Cocpo has also strengthened its coordination with the City Health Office in conducting contact tracing in the city’s 80 barangays.
“The issuing of travel authority is also ongoing at the Cocpo headquarters,” he said.
In the last 24 hours, Viñas said, they apprehended 17 violators of the curfew hours. He added that of the 17 caught, five were minors and 12 adults were sent to their respective barangays for community service.
He said police also caught 16 other violators last night ― seven people for not wearing face masks in public and nine who went outside their residences without barangay exit passes.
“They have also been sent to their respective barangays for their community service,” Viñas said.
Police have charged in court three violators of the public intoxication ordinance of the city.
Late last night, President Duterte approved the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Task Force sub-technical working group that re-classified provinces and cities into low-, moderate-, and high-risk areas. (Annabelle Ricalde of CIO, and Cong B. Corrales)
