Quarantine violators in Negros Occidental town penalized by attending ‘wake’ of empty coffin

A funeral car goes around Sagay City in Negros Occidental to remind people to stay home or else they will end up inside a coffin. Contributed photo

BACOLOD CITY –– The city government of Sagay, Negros Occidental has found a way to convince residents to stay home during the province-wide enhanced community quarantine in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

A funeral vehicle has been roving around the city. On top is a white coffin while on the side is a message that reads: “Mag Tinir Sa Balay, O Sulod Ka Sa Lungon (Stay at home, or you end up inside the coffin.”

To remind the curfew violators of the dangers of COVID-19, they are penalized with attending an overnight vigil before an empty white coffin inside the Sagay City Gym, said Sagay police chief, Major Antonio Benitez.

He said 30 violators, who were arrested on April 1 in Barangays Vito, Paraiso, Poblacion and Old Sagay, were made to attend a vigil.

These violators, however, had to observe social distancing by sitting six feet apart.

Benitez said the parents of the violators welcomed the penalty.

The innovative way of sending such messages to Sagaynons was conceptualized by the Sagay Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 and the city government of Sagay, Benitez said.

As of April 2, the Sagay City local government reported that two patients under investigation had been discharged from a hospital and under home quarantine.

The city had at least 1,173 persons under monitoring for COVID-19.

Edited by LZB

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