Kalibo, Aklan (CNN Philippines, February 4) — The Aklan provincial government has ordered all hospitality workers on Boracay Island, except for residents and government personnel, to present a negative COVID-19 swab test result as a requirement to report for work.
This comes after some resorts in the tourist spot were forced to close for a few days after several employees tested positive for coronavirus.
An executive order signed by Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores on Tuesday required workers on the island to take an RT-PCR test if they are entering the island. They cannot report back to work until they produce a negative test result.
Aklan residents working in Boracay and government workers coming from within Aklan are exempted from the strict testing requirement.
It added that hospitality workers are discouraged to leave the island even on their days off unless there is a “valid and reasonable ground,” which will be determined by their employers. If they are allowed to leave, the must return to Boracay within 12 hours, otherwise, they need to undergo a seven-day quarantine for monitoring.
CNN Philippines stringer Carla Doromal contributed to this report.
