With 5 COVID-19 cases, Lucena City now in lockdown

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala on Sunday afternoon declared a total lockdown of the city following five confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Alcala, in a public advisory posted on his Facebook page, ordered Lucena City Police chief Lieutenant Colonel Romulo Albacea to strictly implement the lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus in the province. “Those who will be allowed to go out of their house are only those holders of quarantine pass but only for the specified day,” Alcala said in Filipino. The lockdown begins on Monday. As of noontime Sunday, local health authorities recorded a sudden spike of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city from only three on Saturday to five. This prompted Alcala to declare the total lockdown and seal the city borders. He asked for understanding and cooperation from city residents as the city implements the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon as ordered by President Duterte in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19. “Let us demonstrate our strong unity during this critical time,” Alcala asked his constituents. Earlier, Alcala told the Inquirer that the lockdown order will be much stricter because of stubborn city residents. There will also be a firmer enforcement of quarantine pass rule, he said. The mayor also declared that no one from other towns will be allowed to enter the city. The Lucena City confirmed COVID-19 cases are that of a woman and four men. All of them except for one have no history of travel abroad. As of Sunday, Quezon province recorded a total of nine confirmed COVID-19 cases.

/MUF