Malay, Boracay intensify border checkpoints to contain nCoV

Acting Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista issues Executive Order No. 004 series of 2020 that suspends entry of travelers in the province with history from China and its administrative region within the last two on Feb. 6. PNA
Acting Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista issues Executive Order No. 004 series of 2020 that suspends entry of travelers in the province with history from China and its administrative region within the last two on Feb. 6. PNA

BORACAY – In a bid to prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a multi-agency task force in this town intensified border checkpoints before entering this world-famous island.

Three border checkpoints within the two kilometer radius of the Caticlan Port were set up in the boundary of Barangay Union of Nabas town and Barangay Caticlan in this town, another in Sitio Bacolod also of Barangay Caticlan and the last one in Barangay Dumlog, also in this town, to monitor and identify people who may have coronavirus symptoms.

The new measure to operate border checkpoints in all entry points to Malay, Aklan and Boracay Island would be the first line of defense against individuals who experienced flu-like symptoms of the contagious disease.

Acting Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista requested the law enforcement agencies and health personnel of this province to enforce travel restrictions on visitors who recently travelled to China, and its administrative regions Hong Kong, and Macau.

Bautista issued Executive Order No. 004 series of 2020 on Feb. 6, which restricts the entry of those people who had recently been in the three places within the past 2 weeks.

The Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Quarantine are also directed to coordinate with the Malay Municipal Health Office (MHO) and Municipal Tourism Office to check inbound travelers at Malay’s seaports, airport and roads.

The direct flights from and to Wuhan and other cities in mainland China have already been postponed, but the authorities here will continue to expand health screening of travelers, and not only in local airports.

The local tourists and foreigners who will arrive through the Kalibo and Caticlan airports, ports of Caticlan and Alegria in Buruanga town via roll-on roll-off vessels from Batangas and Mindoro, motorized pump boats from Romblon and from northern Antique and Iloilo would also be subjected for screening for signs of fever and cough.

Handheld thermometers are also operational in the border checkpoints, where inbound travelers to Boracay Island would be required to present their passports for verification.

If a person shows symptoms of coughing or fever, the MHO personnel will act a more detailed medical assessment.

For his part, Task Force Deputy Information Manager Madel Joy Tayco said that there have been no reported coronavirus cases in this town and in the island of Boracay.

The local task force against nCoV said there were some 180 persons under monitoring in Boracay Island as of Feb.7.

The MHO and local task force have been cooperating closely with the hotels and establishments in the island to ensure public safety and health of residents and other visitors.(With a report from Akeanforum/PN)

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