Sara to quarantine violators: Prepare P2 million

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday dared quarantine violators to prepare their last will and P2 million for their medical expenses in case they get infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Carpio issued the statement as the government expressed frustration over the non-observance of social distancing in malls during the second day of the implementation of general community quarantine (GCQ) in several areas of the country.

Carpio expressed disappointment over reports that a majority of Davao residents, who were neither reporting for work nor buying essential goods, went out on the first day of the GCQ in the city yesterday.

Carpio said a mass grave has been readied in case the COVID fatalities pile up.

Residents had been warned that the city government will not shoulder their hospital expenses if they violated quarantine rules and contracted COVID.

Carpio said that although the city is under GCQ, people are still limited to buying essential goods such as food and medicine, going to the doctor and reporting to work.

Meanwhile, the COVID cases at the Zamboanga City Jail increased to 132 after seven more inmates tested positive for the disease on Sunday.

The seven new cases were part of a group of inmates issued release orders by the courts, according to Dulce Amor Miravite, chief of the city health office.

Earlier, the city government and jail officials agreed to subject inmates to COVID testing before they would be released to their communities to prevent the spread of the disease.

In Cotabato City, authorities tightened screening of people going in and out of its 37 barangays after two residents tested positive for COVID-19.

The new infections increased the number of cases in the city to eight.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said the patients, a government employee and a returning student from Davao City, were taken to a quarantine facility.

5 new cases in Bataan

The province of Bataan recorded five new COVID-19 cases, including four health workers on Sunday.

The latest infections brought to 131 the total number of cases in the province, according to Rosanna Buccahan, head of the provincial health office.

The health workers, who are in their early 30’s and 40’s, were from Balanga City, Dinalupihan and Orion.

The fifth case is a 34-year-old woman from the town of Morong. Roel Pareño, John Unson, Ric Sapnu