SAN JOSE, Antique – Gov. Rhodora Cadiao allows home quarantine for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) in municipalities with congested community isolation facilities.
Cadiao issued last Friday, Oct. 16, Executive Order No. 137-A, Series of 2020 amending effective immediately certain provisions of Executive Order No. 137, Series of 2020, also known as “An order extending the implementation of a low risk modified general community quarantine in the Province of Antique.”
“Whereas, there is a need to amend of certain provisions of the said order regarding the management of Returning Overseas Filipinos and Locally Stranded Individuals,” the EO stated.
EO Number 137-A amended the guidelines in managing LSIs and ROFs, stating, “Depending on the risk assessment of the Municipal Health Office home quarantine may be allowed for Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) and Returning Overseas Filipinos of municipalities with congested Community Isolation Facilities.”
The following are also included in the amended EO:
* every Friday, the eighteen Municipal Inter-Agency Task Forces on COVID-19 shall submit to the Antique Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 the capacity status of their Community Isolation Facilities
* foods and supplies needed by the Locally Stranded Individuals and Returning Overseas Filipinos while in Community Isolation Facilities shall be their families’ responsibility
* the travel of Locally Stranded Individuals and Returning Overseas Filipinos to the Port of Caticlan shall be every Monday and Thursday only. Their cargo shall be limited to fifteen kilograms only and the same shall be stated in their Notice of Acceptance.
* persons who are being required to undergo a rapid diagnostic test of RT-PCR test for work or for other purposes shall coordinate with their Municipal Health Office and the Provincial Health Office Contact Tracing Team.
The previous EO No. 137 contained rules in managing LSIs and ROFs. These were the following:
“For LSIs and APOR coming into the province of Antique from non-modified general community quarantine areas and from places outside of Panay island and the Province of Guimaras shall:
* secure a certificate of acceptance and a certificate of coordination from the receiving municipal local government unit
* secure a medical certificate from their place of origin stating that they are not persons under monitoring or person under investigation and that they do not have any other infectious disease
* secure their travel authority from the Municipality/City Police Station of their place of origin
* undergo a health risk assessment upon arrival in the Province of Antique and a 14 day quarantine at the Community Isolation Facility (CIF) at their receiving municipalities
* those symptomatic LSIs undergoing quarantine shall undergo an RT-PCR test at the CIF
* those asymptomatic LSIs shall undergo a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) on the seventh day of quarantine
* those positive in the RDT shall undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR test
* those negative in the RDT may be allowed to complete remaining days of quarantine in their homes
* asymptomatic LSIs may undergo RT-PCR test based on Department of Health (DOH) guidelines
* LSIs with negative RT-PCR test result who have clinically recovered may be discharged from quarantine based on DOH guidelines and local health protocols
* LSIs who are senior citizen, pregnant and those with comorbidities or immunocompromised may undergo a 14-day home quarantine upon arrival in the Province of Antique, provided their house are compliant with minimum isolation standard of the DOH.
As of Sunday, October 18, Antique has a total of 67 COVID-19 cases, seven of which are active cases. Of the total cases, 44 are local cases and 23 are LSIs, ROFs and authorized persons outside of residence.
The province also recorded 59 COVID-19 recoveries and one death./PN
