By Angelica Marie Sanchez
The “No Movement Sunday” policy has been reimposed in Cotabato City beginning on May 9, 2021, as the number of COVID-19 cases rise in the said city.
Photo Source: Cotabato City Government Account
The “No Movement Sunday” policy means no one is allowed to go out of their homes except medical front liners and emergency response units.
Only drug stores or pharmacies are allowed to open and public transportations are suspended.
This policy is to help the city prevent the virus from spreading and to control the number COVID-19 cases. As of now, there are 90 active cases in Cotabato City.
The City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, IATF chair said that the decision was made during the task force’s meeting last Wednesday, May 5, 2021, as they reevaluate the quarantine protocols.
“It was in October last year when we had recorded the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases and since then, the number slowly declined until we have reached the lowest in February,” Mayor Sayadi said in an address through a video posted in the city government’s official Facebook account.
The city’s highest record of COVID cases was 354 cases and it was last October 2020. From there the cases slowly decreased to 44 cases in February of 2021— but in the month of March, the city reached 63 cases and went up to 115 cases the following month.
Cotabato City first lifted the “No Movement Sunday” policy on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday to allow Catholics to observe the Holy Week and once again lifted it on April 18, 26, and May 2 to give way for the Muslims free movement during Ramadan.
The policy is now used for the pandemic’s concern and this would be a good idea for the NCR to adapt to also help in decreasing the active cases in our country today.
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