Zamboanga City village on lockdown

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Barangay Mercedez in this city has been placed on lockdown after a barangay health worker tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

The 34-year-old female patient reportedly visited her family in a resettlement area in the barangay.

Health authorities said the two children of the health worker, who manifested symptoms, her husband and grandfather were tested for COVID-19. Contact tracing is ongoing.

The local inter-agency task force on COVID-19 said the barangay health worker is the first case of community transmission in the city since April 14.

The patient is assisting in the immunization drive in Barangay Zone I, where the City Reformatory Center is located.

The city jail is considered the epicenter of COVID-19 in Zamboanga City, where 132 cases were recorded. 

Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the national policy on COVID-19, had earlier said the government would limit lockdowns to barangays with confirmed cases instead of resorting to widespread community quarantines to prevent the spread of the disease.

In Cebu City, 18 people were found infected with the virus yesterday.

The city health department said Barangays Suba and Mambaling recorded three cases each.

Barangay Mambaling has the highest number of cases in the city at 622.

There are now 1,872 COVID-19 cases in Cebu City.

With no reported recovery, the number of those who have recovered from the virus remains at 116.

Meanwhile, Olongapo City is now COVID-free after its 12 patients have recovered, according to Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr.

Paulino said no new case was recorded in the city since May 6. Ric Sapnu, Alicia Ivy Chua/The Freeman