By Rey Anthony Chiu | 06:54 AM November 21, 2021
In one sweep, Governor Arthur Yap restored free travel like it was in Bohol before March 15, 2020 as he issued Executive Order No 57, series of 2021.
The new Executive Order lifted the stay-at-home orders set for the vulnerable sectors identified at extreme risk of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The governor lifted the stay-at-home orders for individuals below 18 years old and over 65 years old senior citizens as well as other identified members of the vulnerable to Covid population, effective immediately.
Above all these, the mandate to wear face masks still remain imposed, despite the new order, a key health official said.
Seen by many as another of Capitol’s tentative steps in opening up Bohol and allowing businesses to recover from the debilitating effect of the pandemic to the economy, EO 57, series of 2021 however did not come without a catch.
Everything is subject to automatic reimposition when the local situation slides back to Alert Level 4.
This practically means that as soon as people get complacent and the local Covid numbers escalate, then the order gets rescinded.
Bohol is currently under Alert level 2 until November 30, at least as per NIATF Resolution No. 148-F, issued November 11. 2021.
The executive order traces its foundation from the Executive Order Now 151 series of 2021, which President Rodrigo Duterte issued approving the laid out the Guidelines on the National-wide implementation of the Alert Level System for COVID-10 Response, as recommended by the National Inter-Agency task Force on the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF).
The NIATF earlier recommended the Alert Level System Guidelines, which stated the stay-at-home order for individuals below 18 years old, those who are above 65 years old, those who have immune deficiency, comorbidity and other health risks, pregnant women or those vulnerable population are strictly implemented in areas under Alert Level 4.
That means in areas under Alert Levels 1, 2 and 3, they would be allowed to move around subject to capacity restrictions and vaccination alert status implemented according to the pervading alert status. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)