TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of Health (DOH) here in the region has issued a warning to identified persons under monitoring (PUMs) to isolate themselves inside their homes or face possible arrest by the police.
The warning made by the DOH came in the wake of reports that there are PUMs who reportedly kept in going out inside of observing a self-quarantine.
Under the protocols of the DOH, those considered to be PUMs or those coming from areas where there are confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) should automatically quarantine themselves for 14 days.
“We have received information that some PUMS are stubborn who kept in going out or socializing which is in violation of the order for them to self-quarantine for 14 days,” John Paul Roca, information officer of the DOH-8, said.
“If they will continue to violate this, the barangay health emergency response team can call the police for assistance and they could be arrested,” he added.
In Rosario town, Northern Samar its police went to Barangay Ligaya, an island village, to force a PUM to submit himself a home quarantine after report that the person refused to do so.
The DOH-8 has monitored about 43 PUMs but this number could be higher as local government units are now tasked to monitor those coming from areas where there are COVID-19 cases like Metro Manila.
In Tacloban City, alone, for example, there are more than 900 PUMs and Samar province has more than 2,000 PUMs.
Eastern Visayas remains to be COVID-19 free.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
