By Darlene Delgado

The province of Iloilo is restricting inbound travel of non-residents to arrest further coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, transmission from other local government units and the entry of the new virus variants.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. yesterday issued Executive Order (EO) 263, or “An order imposing restrictions on inbound travel of non-residents to the province,” with the province under enhanced community quarantine until the end of July.

Under the new EO, only the following can enter the province:
● authorized persons outside their residences (APOR)
● returning residents
● overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
● residents of Iloilo City and Guimaras province

Returning residents, however, shall only be allowed entry if they are asymptomatic. They shall be examined for symptoms upon arrival, and those found with COVID-19  symptoms shall be admitted in the appropriate facility for quarantine and treatment.

For returning OFWs, they shall be subjected to the current RT-PCR test and quarantine procedures administered by the OWWA upon their arrival. They are also subject to health monitoring by their respective city/municipal health officers and BHERTs for 10 days from arrival.

Those who develop symptoms within the 10-day period, shall be admitted in the appropriate facility for isolation/quarantine and treatment until recovered./WDJ