The town of Catarman in Northern Samar has allowed residents to visit their departed loved ones in cemeteries within the schedules set before and after the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mayor Francisco Rosales Jr. said the Catarman Public Cemetery and Don Paco Cemetery will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from October 6 to 28 and Nov. 5 to 7 for residents of two to three scheduled villages per day.

He said the two cemeteries would be closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 in compliance with Resolution No. 32 issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to avoid mass gatherings.

During the schedules, the number of visitors would be limited to 30 percent of the total capacity of both cemeteries to control the crowd and prevent the possible spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“There are no age restrictions but the traditional overnight vigil and installation of tents will not be allowed,” Rosales said.

All visitors will be required to fill out and submit a health declaration for documentation and contact tracing purposes. Members of the barangay (village) health emergency response team and village watchmen are directed to help monitor and enforce the minimum health standards such as the wearing of face mask and physical distancing.

Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar, has a total of 56 Covid-19 cases since March, based on its latest monitoring report. (PNA)