Mayor Labella removes Luz sitio lockdown

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has lifted the lockdown on Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz.

“As of today I have also issued an order lifting the lockdown of Sitio Zapatera, Barangay Luz because of the number of recoveries, and also because of the recommendation of the city health department,” said Mayor Edgardo Labella.

To recall, Labella lifted the lockdown last May 20 after the sitio has recorded more recoveries. But the City Health Department (CHD) has placed the sitio on lockdown again immediately a day after because there were still residents who tested positive for COVID-19.

However, with this latest lifting of lockdown, it is now after the recommendation of the CHD to lift the lockdown in the sitio.

“We will continue the segmental lockdown or ECQ in areas where there is a need for us to have a segmental lockdown. And of course, we will continue to give subsistence because of the segmental lockdown but there are only very few left now,” said Labella.

The Department of Health (DOH) had earlier recommended that at least eight barangays in Cebu City remain on enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) even as the city and the rest of Cebu have transitioned to general community quarantine (GCQ) last June 1.

Those ordered to remain in ECQ include Barangays Luz, Bacayan, Carreta, Sawang Calero, Suba, Tejero, Labangon, and Mambaling.

Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz was among the four areas, together with Barangays Mambaling, Bacayan, and Tejero, which were still under lockdown and were recently assessed by the city .

Last Wednesday, Labella ordered for the lift of the lockdown on Barangay Bacayan and on sitio Callejon in Barangay Labangon.

Meanwhile, at least 24 asymptomatic patients at the barangay’s isolation center (BIC) continue to feel miserable after 45 days in isolation.

Aside from the 24 remaining patients from batch 1 left in the BIC, there are also 20 others from batch 3 that are also hoping to get their prayers answered. Of the 44 left, six of them are seniors.

They are praying that the results of their rapid testing would be released soon.

The first batch at the BIC was retested last May 7 with 44 of them already cleared of the COVID-19 while 24 others were still positive that left them no choice but to continue in isolation.

Last May 18, the remaining patients of batch 1 together with batch 3 underwent a rapid test while those in batch 2 had both rapid and swab test at the same time.

Batch 2’s PCR re-swab was released last May 28, while batch 1 and 3’s results from the rapid testing remain unavailable as of this writing.

“Dugay na kaayo mi nganhi sige mi pangita sa among result, huwat-huwat lang daw mi. Sige lang sila paasa namo, grabe dugay na kaayo mi diri, gusto na mi mouli,” said one of the patients who requested anonymity.

What adds up to their confusion is when the remaining patients were told that they will be re-swabbed anew.

“Giingnan mig e-reswab na pud daw mi. Pirti ng libuga namo ani, na-reswab naman mi tapos na rapid na pud. Wala pa gani namo makuha ang among result sa rapid, e-reswab na pud?” said another patient in isolation .

Aside from the delay of the results, The FREEMAN also learned that delivery of food has been delayed again.  What is worse was that the foods at times were either half cooked or spoiled.

“Karon man gani, nahatdan mi diri 1:30 na sa hapon. Sige na mig ka pasmo-pasmo diri. Unya kung dili hilaw, pan-os, pan-os na. Mura ra gyud mig gidula-dulaan diri, “ the patient said.

“Maluoy intawn mo, tabangi mi nga unta maabot unta sa taas ang among gustong ipaabot nga unta magawas na unta ang among mga result para makapauli na intawn mi, please malooy mo namo,” added one of the patients. GAN (FREEMAN)