Quezon City, Manila areas under lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City and Manila governments have placed several areas under lockdown following reports of a rise in COVID-19 cases.

In an advisory yesterday, the Quezon City government placed 12 areas – not entire barangays – under special concern lockdown. These cover portions of or entire compounds, blocks, alleys or streets where clustering of cases and potential community transmission are observed, the city government said.

The latest to be placed under lockdown this week were a portion of Sitio 5 in Jose Abad Santos, Barangay Sta. Lucia; No. 2A-4, K-6th street and No. 46-50, K-9th street in Barangay West Kamias; and No. 90 Gonzales Compound in Barangay Balon Bato.

Over the weekend, lockdowns were also imposed on No. 64 14th Avenue in Barangay Socorro and No. 64-B Agno Extension in Barangay Tatalon.

Last week, the city government declared lockdowns on No. 237 Apo street in Barangay Maharlika; Paul and Thaddeus streets in Jordan Park Homes Subdivision in Barangay Commonwealth; 49 & 51 E Rodriguez Sr. Avenue in Barangay Doña Josefa; and De Los Santos Compound on Heavenly Drive in Barangay San Agustin.

Other areas that are still under lockdown since the last week of February were L. Pascual street in Barangay Baesa and a portion of Durian street in Barangay Pasong Tamo.

The lockdowns will last for at least 14 days, with the possibility of extension depending on the results of contact tracing and swab testing.

All residents in affected areas will undergo swab testing and must complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The city government said it will provide all the necessities of affected residents, including food and other essential supplies.

In an interview with radio dzBB, Mayor Joy Belmonte said residents, including essential workers, will not be allowed to leave their household during the duration of the lockdown.

“We will write their employers informing them that the city government placed their household under special concern lockdown,” she said in Filipino. “Our suggestion is if they really have to work, they may look for other places where they can stay for the duration of the lockdown.”

Belmonte earlier directed the stricter enforcement of health protocols following the surge in cases in Metro Manila.

As of yesterday, the city has 1,816 active cases out of the total 34,139 validated cases since the start of the pandemic. It has recorded 31,465 recoveries and 858 deaths.

Hotels included

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday placed two barangays and two hotels under a four-day lockdown.

He signed Executive Order 6, placing Barangays 351 and 725 from midnight on March 11 to 11:59 p.m. on March 14.

Data from the city’s health department showed that Barangay 351 has 12 active cases and Barangay 725 has 14 active cases.

Two hotels in Barangay 699 will also be placed under lockdown after 14 cases were detected in Malate Bayview Mansion and three cases in Hop Inn Hotel.

Moreno said residents of these barangays shall be strictly confined to their homes.

As of presstime, about 154 new active cases were recorded by the city health department, bringing the total number of active cases in the city to 988.

Meanwhile, 74 new recoveries and two new deaths were tallied by the city health department, bringing the total number of recoveries and deaths at 27,639 and 817, respectively.

Quarantine passes will be issued to residents affected by the lockdown. They would be required to present the pass if they need to leave their homes to run important errands such as buying food or medicine.

Moreno directed the Manila Police District to help the city government enforce the lockdowns.

One million masks were also ordered distributed for free the other day in Manila by Moreno in the wake of what he described as an alarming rise in the number of COVID case in the city.

The city government also carried out simultaneous vaccinations for medical frontliners.