Boracay Island will deny entry to tourists as Malay town, Aklan will be on general community quarantine starting Thursday amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista signed on Wednesday executive order 014, which places the town on general community quarantine, regulating the entry of goods and supplies in the municipality and imposes a curfew.

Both foreign and domestic tourists, regardless of origin, will be denied entry to the municipality if they are not residents or workers in Malay.

The restriction of the entry of people will exempt Malaynons, persons involved in the delivery of goods and commodities, medical doctors working in Malay, national government officials and employees, and returning officials or employees of the town and its barangays.

Bautista said he will authorize the entry of persons, which does not fall under the exemptions if it relates to health, safety, security, and commerce.

The authorization will be through a written consent issued by Bautista’s office provided that they undergo the required medical protocols.

A curfew will also be implemented from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to prevent any unregulated social gathering during nighttime.

Violators of the curfew will be dealt with proper penalties and fines under the laws enforced by the Malay Municipal Police Station.

As the municipality continues to guard its borders against Covid-19, tourist arrivals have gone down by 40 percent. The 172, 695 tourists in January dropped to 103, 834 in the following month, the mayor said.
Malay town remains free from the virus as of Wednesday. (PNA)