Use of Face Masks Now Mandatory in Cebu City

As health authorities identified this city as the “epicenter” of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Central Visayas, Mayor Edgardo Labella issued a new executive order (EO) for all city residents to wear face masks in public places starting on Thursday (April 2, 2020).

Labella on Wednesday issued EO 66 which also provides for penalty against violators.

The order identified the public places where wearing of masks is mandatory. These include government offices and private establishments continuously operating despite the prevailing state of enhanced community quarantine in the entire city, public utility and common utility vehicles such as buses, minibuses, shuttles and vans that ferry individuals and employees to and from their homes and places of work, including those that are offering free rides.

The mandatory wearing of masks shall be done “at all times and in all public places where a transmission of the said illness may take place through the modes of transmission as published by authorities in the field of public health.”

Under the new EO, those that may be used include surgical, cloth, washable and N-95 masks, and even bandanas.

The mayor sent a copy of the order to the Cebu City Police Office, with a directive to fully implement it starting Thursday.

Labella said the city government would file charges of violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act of 2018 against those who would not abide by the new order.

A person or entity shall be penalized with a fine of not less than PHP20,000 but not more than PHP50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both, at the discretion of the proper court.

The city was placed under a state of enhanced community quarantine starting last March 28, due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases with four confirmed deaths. (PNA)