No total lockdowns in Caloocan, Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The Caloocan government yesterday denied reports of a city-wide lockdown following the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.

Mayor Oscar Malapitan said he would not declare lockdowns amid the rising cases of COVID-19 infections.

“There will be no lockdowns in Caloocan for now,” Malapitan said in a statement.

Starting tomorrow, Caloocan will reimpose the use of color-coded quarantine passes in going to the markets and the implementation of a 10 p.m.-4 a.m. curfew to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

In Manila, police director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco denied a viral Facebook post about lockdown in Binondo.

However, Mayor Isko Moreno ordered authorities to enforce barangay-level lockdowns in areas where COVID-19 cases are rising.

Moreno ordered a heightened police visibility to remind people to comply with the minimum health protocols.

Francisco vowed to comply with Moreno’s directive.

“Police will maintain visibility against violators of quarantine protocols,” Francisco said.

He said police visibility would be intensified in Tondo and Port Area as well as in the city’s shopping districts such as Divisoria.

Moreno also ordered the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau to improve visibility on the ground.

He directed the city hall’s safety marshals to augment the police force.

The city government promised to give relief packs to 700,000 families as part of its food security program.

There were 908 active cases in Manila, 27,565 recoveries and 815 deaths as of yesterday.

Granular lockdowns

In Navotas, granular lockdowns were implemented in select areas due to COVID-19 infections in households.

These areas are Gov. Pascual street, Sipac Almacen; Sioson street, Bangkulasi; Interior H. Monroy street, Navotas West; Little Samar street, San Jose; Daisy street, North Bay Boulevard South Proper; Pat Cabrera street, San Roque; Block 37 NBBS Dagat Dagatan, and Estrella street, Navotas West.

The Navotas city hall was placed on lockdown after more than 60 employees tested positive for the virus.

The Department of Health recorded 3,356 new COVID-19 cases in the country yesterday, the fourth straight day of logging over 3,000 infections daily.

The OCTA Research Group identified the cities of Pasay, Makati, Malabon and Navotas as high risk areas due to an accelerated rate of infection.

Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Parañaque, Caloocan and Mandaluyong registered two-week spikes of over 40 percent in cases.

The reproduction rate in the National Capital Region is at 1.66 percent, the research group added, with 1,025 average new cases daily from Feb. 28 to March 6.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos said the region logged 6,635 active cases as of March 6, up from 3,767 on Feb. 22. – Jose Rodel Clapano