586 quarantine violators nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — Close to 600 people were apprehended in Cavite over the weekend for violating the enhanced community quarantine imposed in Luzon to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Of the figure, 554 were accosted for violating the curfew, 22 for resisting and disobeying persons in authority and 10 for having drinking sprees outside their homes, according to Cavite police director Col. Marlon Santos.

In Antipolo City, 14 tricycle drivers were held for plying routes despite the suspension of public transportation.

The violators were caught at security checkpoints set up all over the city.

They were brought to the police station for investigation.

23 Nueva Ecija areas on lockdown

Twenty-three areas in Nueva Ecija imposed lockdowns on Saturday after the province posted two new confirmed COVID cases and one death. 

Gov. Aurelio Umali said the patients were asymptomatic and are likely to survive.

Health authorities have started tracing people who have contacts with a 65-year-old balikbayan from Canada, who died while waiting confirmatory results of his COVID test. 

Among the areas on lockdown are the towns of Aliaga, Bongabon, Cabiao, Carranglan, Gen. Natividad, Guimba, Jaen, Laur, Licab, Lupao, Nampicuan, Peñaranda, Rizal, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Sto. Domingo, Talavera, Talugtug and Zaragoza as well the cities of  Cabanatuan, Gapan and San Jose City.

Cabanatuan Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara issued an order placing the city on lockdown due to public health emergency.

The city government said it would issue quarantine passes to allow residents to go out to buy food and  medicine as well as to go to hospitals for treatment.

Checkpoints will be established at the entry and exit points of every barangay.

Bataan posts second case

Meanwhile, the province of Bataan listed its second confirmed COVID case on Saturday.

The new case is a 24-year-old male, who is confined at the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga City, according to provincial health officer Rosanna Buccahan.

First 3 cases in Taytay

The municipal government of Taytay in Rizal implemented an extreme enhanced community quarantine after confirming its first three cases and one fatality.

The Taytay Public Information Office said the patient died even before test results confirming her infection were released by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

The town has 106 and 11 persons under monitoring and investigation, respectively, for possible infection.

The municipal health office said it would disinfect and fumigate villages where the three cases came from.

Still COVID-free

Although there has been no COVID-19 case listed in Aklan, the provincial government has decided to restrict the movement of residents to protect them from the disease.

Gov. Florencio Miraflores yesterday signed an executive order placing the province under enhanced community quarantine.

The order will take effect starting today until April 14, unless extended or shortened based on recommendations of the the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases and Department of Health as well as the provincial health office.

All public and private offices, businesses and commercial establishments will be closed during the quarantine period.

Among those exempted from the order are public markets, suspermarkets, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics and diagnostics centers, water refilling stations and others.

Public vehicles are allowed to operate, provided they observe social distancing.