Samar closes capitol for disinfection, suspends LSIs

Samar's provincial capitol in Catbalogan City was closed starting Monday for a week-long disinfection after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Governor Michael Tan ordered all provincial government employees to work from home until August 28, following DOH guidelines.

Catbalogan is under enhanced community quarantine due to recent local transmission of the virus.

Samar's provincial government suspended the entry of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) for four weeks starting midnight on August 25 to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

The suspension aligns with Joint Resolution 18 issued by the Regional Inter-agency Task Force and the Regional Task Force on COVID-19.

As of August 22, Samar had 494 active cases, including at least 90 recorded on that day.