Amid the ongoing threat of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), along with the Department of Health (DOH) confirming the first domestic case earlier this week, the Guimaras provincial government announced restrictions on the entry of foreign tourists.
Governor Samuel T. Gumarin signed an executive order on Friday temporarily requiring visitors from areas affected by nCoV, particularly Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, to show their health clearance from the DOH Bureau of Quarantine.
“We should be prepared,” he said. “Nagahandum kita mabalik sa daan ang aton tourism industry but ang ikaayong-lawas sang mga Guimarasnon aton man protektahan (We would like get back to our tourism industry but we must protect the health of Guimaras residents).”
In addition, there are currently three patients under investigation in the Western Visayas.
Earlier in the day, President Rodrigo Duterte issued an order to temporarily bar entry to all Chinese nationals from China’s Hubei province, where Wuhan is located.
Meanwhile, Hubei has been on lockdown since January 24./WDJ