As border restriction eases, Eleazar urges gov’t to watch out for Covid-19 surges in provinces

SENATORIAL aspirant Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar called for a stricter implementation of health protocols in the provinces due to the surge of COVID-19 cases, even as the national government suspended the risk classification for inbound foreign travelers.

Eleazar believes that health experts from the IATF made a science-based decision when they suspended the risk classification for incoming travelers but he cautioned that the rise of infections in the provinces could offset the gains in Metro Manila.

“Naniniwala ako na naconsider ng IATF ang lahat ng aspeto kaya inalis na ang red, yellow, at green list classification para sa mga banyagang bakasyunista na nagnanais na pumasok sa ating bansa. Subalit hindi pa rin dapat tayo makampante dahil pataas pa rin ang kaso sa ibang mga probinsya kahit na pababa na ito sa Metro Manila,” he said.

“Kaya naman nananawagan ako sa ating gobyerno na tutukan ang mahigpit na implementasyon ng mga health protocols sa mga lugar na pataas ang mga kaso. Nababahala ang mga governors dahil ayon sa kanila, sumisipa ang mga kaso mula nang magsidatingan sa probinsya ang mga tao na lumuluwas mula sa lugar na mataas ang kaso,” he added.

Eleazar, who headed the Joint Task Force COVID Shield before he was appointed as the Chief PNP, said that if border restriction in the provinces is not monitored properly, it could overwhelm their healthcare capacity.

“Huwag natin pabayaan ang ibang rehiyon kahit medyo gumaganda na ang sitwasyon sa Metro Manila. Mareresolba lang itong pandemya kung lahat tayo ay ligtas sa banta ng COVID-19,” Eleazar said. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced the suspension of the risk classification for foreign travelers as the government adopted new set of protocols for them.

Fully vaccinated travelers shall no longer be required to undergo a facility-based quarantine but they have to monitor themselves for symptoms at home for seven days.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers will have to undergo facility-based quarantine until they test negative for COVID-19 which shall be taken on the fifth day of their stay, and complete their 14-day quarantine at home.

For outbound travelers, they have to present a negative RT-PCR test that is taken within 48 hours prior to departure regardless of their vaccination status.

Amid the implementation of the new travel policy, League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. appealed to the government to heighten border control in the provinces due to the surge of cases.

He attributed the surge to the influx if travelers from areas placed under Alert Level 3, which means that there is a high rate of infection, to areas that are under Alert Level 2 or those that are low risk for COVID-19.