Residents of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City were told anew to observe minimum health standards as the province and the city remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued respective executive orders (EOs) on Tuesday and Wednesday to formalize the extension of the MGCQ until July 15.

In EO 20-28 released on Tuesday afternoon, Lacson reiterated his previous directives, EO 20-25 and 20-26, stating that these will remain in full force and effect.

EO 20-25 is “An Executive Order Placing the Entire Province of Negros Occidental under MGCQ” from June 1 to 15 issued on May 31 while EO 20-26 is “An Executive Order Extending the Duration of the MGCQ over the Entire Province of Negros Occidental until June 30, 2020” issued on June 15.

“Because of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in our country, there is still a need to place the province under MGCQ,” Lacson said.

In Section 4, the order stated that “(a)ll persons/establishments violating the provisions of this EO, as well as the established health protocols issued by the Department of Health, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), other agencies and the Province of Negros Occidental, shall face appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges.”

As of Wednesday, Negros Occidental has 91 Covid-19 cases.

Minimum health standards would consist of mandatory use of face mask, physical distancing, proper washing of hands, and checking of temperature.

In Bacolod, Leonardia issued EO 45 on Wednesday for “the second extension of the MGCQ in the City of Bacolod from June 30 to July 15”.

Similarly, the mayor also stated the continued enforceability of the previous EO 38 and EO 43 until July 15.

EO 38 is “An Order Placing the City of Bacolod under MGCQ” while EO 43 is “An Order Extending the MGCQ in the City of Bacolod”.

According to EO 45, the “continuity of the MGCQ requires that Bacolodnons shall have to adopt some necessary lifestyle changes because the said deadly disease is still a scourge to the whole world and Bacolodnons”.

“Bacolodnons still have to take necessary health precautions under the MGCQ while it aims to eventually graduate into the ‘new normal’ while allowing some normalcy back into our community life,” Leonardia said in the directive.

As of Tuesday, Bacolod has 51 Covid-19 cases. (PNA)