The city government said enhanced surveillance on all entry points will be imposed here amid the rising threat of 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

This will be carried out instead of community quarantine, Mayor Alfred Romualdez said in a press briefing.

Romualdez said all persons entering the city are required to undergo registration, testing, and evaluation of symptoms of the infection.

“We have many residents here that are returning because of the community quarantine or lockdown they took in Metro Manila, Cebu and other areas with confirmed cases,” he said.

For this purpose, a task force composed of health workers, police, traffic enforcers, and members of the city disaster and social welfare offices were deployed to implement the appropriate measures.

Persons who fail to comply or cooperate will be denied entry, he added.

“We just want to monitor them, and we will give them the best care possible, at the same time protecting ourselves,” he said, urging the public not to ostracize them just because they are suspected carriers of the Covid-19.

In an executive order signed on Sunday, the mayor has enhanced its implementation of urgent and appropriate responses to prevent the spread of the virus.

These include mandatory registration and reporting of possible carriers of the Covid-19, regulation of activities and business operations, travel restrictions, with imposed penalties to those who will not comply with the order.

As of Monday afternoon, the city has six patients under investigation for the virus and 962 persons under monitoring advised to strictly follow quarantine protocols.

“All these measures are temporary, and we do them if needed. We ask for the support and cooperation of everyone. We can combat this if we unite and help each other,” Romualdez said. (PNA)