Cebu (CNN Philippines, February 28) — Cebu province will now require passengers coming from North Gyeonsang in South Korea to undergo 14-day quarantine.
Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia issued Executive Order 5-C amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in that South Korean province where city of Daegu is located.
The order also covers the 26 Korean nationals who already arrived in Cebu prior to the declaration of a travel ban.
Department of Health regional director Jaime Bernadas said that 7 out of the 26 Koreans are no longer in the hotels they listed on their health declaration cards filled up on arrival at the airport.
In fact, 2 of the 7 missing Koreans did not check in at the hotel they listed on their health declaration cards.
The 19 other Koreans are now being subjected to the 14-day quarantine based on the protocols of the executive order dated February 28.
During a press briefing, Bernadas said the Koreans have the option to undergo the quarantine or go back to South Korea. As of now, the Koreans are restricted inside their hotel rooms.
South Korea is the country with the second most number of cases after China. It has recorded 1,766 infections and 13 deaths as of Thursday.
The Philipines on Wednesday announced an entry ban on travelers from North Gyeongsang but officials later clarified it will take effect 48 hours after a resolution by Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases is signed. The Bureau of Immigration said it has started enforcing the ban on Friday.
Garcia said she issued the order on the mandatory quarantine in view of the “confusion” on the part of the national government agencies whether a travel ban is already in effect or not.
CNN Philippines stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report
