ILOILO City – Between March 17 to April 11, police units across Western Visayas were able to apprehend 4,448 persons for violating quarantine curfews being imposed by various local government units as part efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Of these violators, 49 were recidivists who were eventually charged in court, data from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) showed.
Bacolod City had the highest number of violators at 1,732 followed by Negros Occidental (1,123) and Iloilo City (1,043).
“Everyday people are being arrested for loitering outside their residences and not observing social distancing,” said PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong.
She warned, “Indi naton ma-solve ang virus outbreak if hard-headed persons will continue to violate quarantine rules.”
Quarantines in various cities, towns and provinces in the region, originally set to end today, are being extended until the end of this month.
“Our policemen will not stop conducting saturation drives to apprehend curfew violators. Once again we appeal to the people: stay at home and avoid loitering,” said Malong.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually./PN
