47 of 209 Navotas violators get virus

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-seven of 209 persons arrested for quarantine protocol violations in Navotas from March 16 to 19 tested positive for COVID-19, Mayor Toby Tiangco said yesterday.

“This only shows that those who breached our safety protocols are very prone to COVID-19 infection and could become spreaders of the virus,” said city mayor Toby Tiangco.

The city government has ordered that residents arrested for not wearing face masks, going out during curfew hours and not practicing physical distancing be subjected to RT-PCR tests.

It has also locked down several areas in the city, including the barangay halls of North Bay Boulevard North, Bangkulasi, San Rafael Village, North Bay Boulevard South Proper and San Jose.

Tiangco said 142 employees of these barangays caught COVID-19, prompting the closure of the barangay halls for disinfection.

The city hall and the Navotas City Hospital’s outpatient department were also closed due to the rising cases of COVID-19 in the city, he added.

Tiangco said he fears the spread of COVID-19 cases could paralyze government functions such as patrolling, garbage collection and medical services.

The city government recorded 239 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total tally of Navotas’ confirmed cases to 7,861 with 6,386 recoveries, 228 deaths and 1,247 active cases.