Cavite province under community quarantine, state of calamity due to coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said on Monday, March 16, that the province is now under community quarantine and a curfew shall be imposed from 8pm to 5am as measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

These will be effective 12:01 am, Tuesday, March 17. Remulla did not indicate when the community quarantine and curfew would be lifted.

On his official Facebook page, Remulla enumerated several restrictions for the duration of the executive order. These include:

• Closure of malls, gaming parlours, computer gaming shops, wellness centers, cockpits arenas, public playgrounds, basketball courts, beaches, and public parks 
• Prohibition of dine in services in restaurants, only take-home and deliveries will be allowed
• Cancellation of fiestass, karakols, parades, and other related public assemblies
• Common religious congregations are discouraged
• Disallowing loitering in the streets at any time of the day and sidewalk vending

Remulla said that banks, groceries, supermarkets, pharmacies, pawn shops, hardwares, wet markets, public utility offices, bayad centers, and related financial services will remain open.

Earlier, Vice Governor Jolo Revilla announced that Cavite has been placed under a state of calamity because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Also on his official Facebook page, Revilla said that the declaration was made by virtue of Resolution 1437-2020. Placing a province or city under a state of calamity allows the provincial or local government unit access to its quick respond funds during emergency situations.

“Please stay at home and follow government guidelines for your safety,” Revilla also said.

On Sunday, March 15, Remulla confirmed the province’s second case of COVID-19, the disease brought by 2019 n-CoV. 

Remulla said that the patient is a medical practitioner now confined in a private hospital in Silang. He added that this was “apparently a result of community transmission.”  

The first Cavite COVID-19 case was reported on Tuesday, March 10. As of Friday, March 13, Cavite has 106 persons under investigation. 

Cavite, a first class province accoriding to its income, has a projected population 4.8 million this year. It is adjacent to Metro Manila, the center of coronavirus outbreak in the country.

On Sunday, the Department of Health (DOH) said that there are 140 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country with 12 deaths. (READ: Coronavirus cases in Philippines rise to 140, with 12 deaths) – Rappler.com