Pampanga to enforce curfew, liquor ban starting March 20 as COVID-19 cases rise

The provincial government of Pampanga will implement a curfew and liquor ban starting Saturday, March 20 to Monday, April 5 amid rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Under Executive Order No. 5, signed by Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda on March 19, the curfew will begin at 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting 12:01 a.m. of March 20 and until 5 a.m. of April 5.

Healthcare workers, emergency and government frontliners, and essential or night-shift workers will be exempted from the curfew.

Sale and consumption of any alcoholic beverage will also be prohibited, the local government said.

It added that barangay checkpoints will also be activated with the help of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, minors, senior citizens, pregnant women, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, and other health risks are prohibited from going out of their homes.

Only two individuals per household will be allowed outside to purchase essential goods.

Non-Pampanga residents may still enter the province provided that they can present negative test results for COVID-19 taken not more than 72 hours before their entry.

Individuals involved in the movement of all types of cargoes will be exempted from the RT-PCR test requirement as long as there are only 5 individuals manning the cargo vehicles and that social distancing measures are observed.

Also exempted are authorized persons outside residents (APOR) from the national government and their attached agencies.

However, the APORs must present their identification cards,  travel order, travel itinerary, and must go through screening at points of entry.

As of March 18, Pampanga has reported a total of 8,627 confirmed cases, of which 757 are still active.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News