TACLOBAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Northern Samar has approved on third and final reading an ordinance that restricts the movements of unvaccinated individuals in the province.
The measure is part of the response of the provincial government amid increasing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Northern Samar.
The ordinance, which was approved last January 21 regular session of the provincial board, prohibits all unvaccinated individuals from leaving their houses except when accessing for essential goods or accessing medical and health services.
Unvaccinated individuals are also prohibited from going to restaurants, hotels, malls, sports event venues, gyms, and other commercial establishments.
Employees who are unvaccinated will have to present a negative RT-PCR every two weeks before they are allowed to return or report to their work.
The ordinance also encourages all establishments and offices in the province to display a “no vaccination card, no entry,” signage.
The ordinance will take it effectively once the Provincial Legal Office and the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force and the Office of SP Secretary craft the implementing rules and regulation (IRR), and publication in general circulation.
Northern Samar is the first local government unit in Eastern Visayas that creates a local law imposing restrictions on movements of unvaccinated individuals.
Prior to the approval of the enactment of this ordinance, Governor Edwin Ongchuan had issued a local executive order restricting movements of unvaccinated individuals.
The order covers not only access to private and public establishments but also prohibits unvaccinated residents from using public transport
Based on the data from the Department of Health, Northern Samar is on the bottom in vaccination status at 284,877 individuals 60.2% who had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines while 214, 105 or 45.3% are fully vaccinated.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
