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SORSOGON TO PENALIZE DISHONEST PATIENTS AMID COVID-19 CRISIS – ESCUDERO

Health authorities in Sorsogon province have urged residents seeking medical treatment to be honest in giving information to health personnel attending to their health concerns amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero recently signed a “Patient’s Dishonesty Ordinance” penalizing patients who lie or give untruthful declaration during medical consultations and confinement in all private and public clinics and hospitals in the province.

Salvador Mendoza, Office of the Governor spokesperson, said the ordinance was crafted to prevent people from being dishonest or untruthful in issuing records and documents about their health.

There have been cases of health workers being exposed to the COVID-19 virus because the patient did not disclose information such as recent travel abroad.

“The ordinance was crafted in line with Republic Act 11332, the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases.”

Mendoza said the ordinance was crafted in line with Republic Act 11332, the “Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases”, which makes it a crime to conceal data or intentionally provide wrong information to health workers in times of public health emergency.

“Violators would face a jail term of one year and a fine ranging from P1,000 to P5,000,” he said.

Sorsogon province is also enforcing a 24-hour curfew prohibiting minors aged 15 and below to roam the streets and public places.

Escudero signed the curfew ordinance in line with the enhanced community quarantine imposed by the national government for Luzon to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Any minor who violates the curfew would be made to perform community service.”

Under the ordinance, any minor who violates the curfew will be made to perform community service.

Parents and guardians who are found to be negligent or remiss in their parental duties to enforce home quarantine on their children will also be reprimanded.

Escudero directed the provincial police, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to implement the ordinance. 

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