Sampaloc lockdown begins today

MANILA, Philippines — The 48-hour total lockdown in Sampaloc, Manila starts tonight as the number of people infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the district reached 106 yesterday.

Mayor Isko Moreno said the lockdown, which begins at 8 p.m. and will last until 8 p.m. on Saturday, would allow the local government to do rapid testing in the district, which posted the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the city.

Moreno said there were 135 suspected COVID-19 cases in Sampaloc.

“The 48-hour period would be enough for our health workers to do rapid testing,” he said.

The lockdown would also be enforced due to the number of enhanced community quarantine violators in the area, according to Moreno.

Except for the frontliners, residents would be prohibited to go out of their houses during the lockdown, he said. 

Cesar Chavez, the mayor’s chief of staff, said there would be around five community-based screening centers in the district.

At least 500 rapid testing kits will be used in the screening centers. An additional 1,000 antibody testing kits were donated to the Ospital ng Sampaloc by the Aboitiz group and Angkas, Chavez said.

Those who would test positive for the virus would be turned over to the Manila health department for swab testing. 

Pasay, Muntinlupa barangays shut down

In Pasay, Barangay 201, the second largest village in the city, was placed under total lockdown until April 30.

Barangay chairman James Bontilao said they have requested for soldiers as augmentation to the local police to enforce order in the area.

There are around 28,000 residents in the barangay, according to Bontilao.

There were three confirmed COVID-19 cases in the area.

Barangay Poblacion in Muntinlupa was also placed under a modified lockdown.

The city government said families with confirmed COVID-19 patients are not allowed to go out. Officials of the barangay would supply their basic needs.

Vico backs quarantine extension

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto is in favor of extending the enhanced community quarantine beyond April 30 to sustain the gains in containing COVID-19.

Easing restrictions at the end of the month is premature as cases of COVID-19 remain high in some areas, Sotto said.

He cited the situation in Pasig, which has 266 cases of COVID-19 with 48 deaths.

With a backlog of over 200 suspected COVID-19 cases, Sotto said they have been ramping up testing to get a clear picture of the scope of infection in the city.

While he is in favor of an extension of the quarantine, Sotto said he is against a total lockdown, adding that it will “cause social unrest.”

Sotto said they would implement stricter measures to force people to stay home, adding that he sees no problem if the national government would deploy soldiers in the city to impose order.

Restaurants back in business

In Mandaluyong, the local government has eased restrictions on food establishments in the city, allowing them to resume operations but only in a limited capacity.

Mayor Menchie Abalos signed an executive order allowing food businesses to resume operations but only for take-out, delivery and drive-thru services. Dine-in services are prohibited.

“These include food establishments inside shopping malls, groceries and supermarkets,” she said.

Restaurants, canteens and other eateries are also allowed to operate.–Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Emmanuel Tupas