The city government of Maasin in Southern Leyte has formed an inspection team to ensure strict compliance with health measures and protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Mayor Nacional Mercado will chair the Compliance Inspection Team with representatives from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Trade and Industry, and the city’s health, engineering, jail, local government operations, general services, and disaster risk reduction and management offices, its traffic operations officer, market inspector, terminal supervisor, and sanitary inspection officer as members.

“The team will be doing rounds to check and monitor if establishments and people in the community are indeed compliant to the checklist provided in accordance with the standards put in place by the Department of Health (DOH),” Mercado said in a statement on Wednesday.

Among these health protocols under City Ordinance 2020-138 are the mandatory wearing of face mask, observance of safe physical distancing, and use of thermal scanner and installation of handwashing and footbath facilities in establishments.

“As we move to the new normal, we must take into consideration all relevant rules and regulations affecting the community. The team was created to strike balance between the revival of the economic engine and implementation of standard health measures, so I hereby appeal to the public to be responsible and disciplined,” Mercado said.

Persons who will violate the city ordinance will have to settle a PHP500 to PHP2,000 fine and PHP1,000 to PHP3,000 fine for establishments.

“This might be tough, but we have to ensure effective systems and controls are in place, as well as ensuring fair outcomes for everyone,” Mercado said.

Since the outbreak, the city has confirmed a total of 14 Covid-19 cases, including eight recoveries and zero death.

Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas has confirmed a total of 848 cases, with 653 recoveries, and three deaths from Leyte, Biliran, and Samar.

To date, the region has 192 active cases housed in isolation and quarantine facilities, the DOH said. (PNA)