San Juan lifts lockdowns

MANILA, Philippines — The San Juan City government has lifted the localized lockdowns it enforced in areas declared as “critical zones” due to clustering of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, Mayor Francis Zamora announced yesterday.

Data from the city government showed that 21 cases of COVID-19 were recorded on J. Eustaquio street in Barangay Progreso. One of the patients died of complications caused by the virus.

C. Santos street in Barangay Balong Bato registered 18 COVID-19 infections.

Barangay Salapan’s J. De la Cruz street logged 15 cases. Of the number, 10 have recovered while five are still recovering in the city’s Kalinga Center.

“No more areas in the city are under enhanced community quarantine. The whole city is under general community quarantine,” Zamora told reporters.

Market renovation

Zamora led the opening yesterday of a relocation site in the city’s plaza for vendors affected by the renovation of the Agora public market.

The temporary market site will have 98 stalls with tents and tables. Water and electricity will also be installed in the area, the mayor said.

“We expect to finish the renovation by May next year,” Zamora said.

The Agora Market is undergoing rehabilitation to modernize its facilities, improve ventilation and install better water lines and lighting fixtures.

Zamora said the renovation is being done in six phases with an estimated 30 to 40 days per phase.

The mayor said the Agora market would adapt to the new normal.

On July 1, the market was closed after a fish vendor contracted the virus. It reopened on July 16 after disinfection.

Zamora said 647 vendors and market workers have returned to their stalls after they were given clearances by the city health office.