Cebu imposes travel ban amid COVID-19 threat

The provincial government of Cebu prohibited the entry of travelers starting Sunday, March 15, amid the threat from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according a report on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Sunday.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said flights from Metro Manila and Dumaguete City are barred from landing in the province starting Sunday.

On Monday, March 16, travel from Cagayan de Oro, Legazpi City, and New Clark City to Cebu will be prohibited.

All domestic flights to Cebu will be banned starting Tuesday, March 17.

For sea travel, passengers from Dumaguete City will not be allowed to enter the province starting Sunday.

On Monday, passengers from San Carlos City and Escalante City in Negros Occidental as well as from Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental will also be prohibited.

No sea travelers will be allowed to enter Cebu on Tuesday.

For international flights, passengers from Spain have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period in Cebu starting Monday.

Garcia clarified that the travel ban is not community quarantine.

She said Cebuanos are still allowed to leave the province.

However, they will only be allowed to return after 30 days. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News