LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Health in Region 5 (Bicol) has recorded 16 new recoveries from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), bringing the total number of those who have beaten the illness to 1,630 as of Oct.11.

The DOH-Bicol said on Monday that the new recoveries are from Albay (3); Catanduanes (1); Sorsogon (5) and Legazpi City (7).

“The fight against Covid-19 rests primarily in each individual action. Everyone should take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus,” Dr. Ernie Vera, the agency’s regional director, said in a statement.

A total of 31 out of the 258 new test results received from two testing laboratories in Bicol and one in the National Capital Region (NCR) was confirmed positive for Covid-19. The patients are from Albay (1); Camarines Sur (20); Naga City (5); Catanduanes (2) and Sorsogon (3).

The DOH-Bicol has recorded 88 deaths due to coronavirus. Out of the 2,109 total confirmed cases, the number of active cases in the region is now only 391.

Meanwhile, the Legazpi City Covid-19 Task Force is now accepting applications to resume the operations of mall-based cinemas.

Mayor Noel Rosal, in an advisory, said the city government is doing its best to balance the containment and prevention of Covid-19 spread and reviving the economy which was heavily impacted by the pandemic.

“Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines for areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), cinemas are allowed subject to conditions…but due to the many cases of Covid-19 the past two months, the local task force decided not to implement this in our city…..now, with the cases going down…the local task force will accept application for inspection to run cinemas but subject to 30-percent capacity only…this is due to the safety of the viewers,” Rosal said.

To provide a safe environment for customers and workers, mall-based cinemas will only be allowed to operate 50 percent of their total number of screens, and at 30 percent seating capacity only per screen, the advisory said.

Health protocols and disinfection shall be conducted, as well as contactless temperature screening of all those entering the cinema. Those found to have fever should be denied entry.

The mayor’s advisory added that disinfection should be done after every screening. “There should be an allocation of at least 45 minutes to give sufficient time to disinfect all frequently touched surfaces.”

“Violation of any protocols during operations can cause the closure of the establishment at first offense,” Rosal said. (PNA)