Parts of Marikina market closed for disinfection

MANILA, Philippines – The city government of Marikina has decided to close parts of the Marikina market for disinfection, after a 72-year-old male vendor died due to respiratory ailments, suspected to have been caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro gives orders to close off a portion of the Marikina market for disinfection. Image from the Marikina Public Information Office

Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said in a statement on Monday that the City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (CESU) was directed to conduct quick contact tracing of the persons who might have been in contact with the vendor, even if it has not been ascertained if the latter died from COVID-19.

The market is located along Shoe Avenue corner Sumulong Highway, and lies near the Marikina Sports Complex and the city proper.  Only the wet market section was closed, while the rest of the stores — grocery, food stalls, fruits and vegetable section, and the coconut area are still open, however.

“Bilang pag-iingat, ipinasara natin ang Marikina City Public Market upang makapag-massive disinfection at aggressive contact tracing,” Teodoro said.

“Hindi dapat magkaroon ng transmission sa palengke, sa dami ng tao na maaring magkasakit. Kailangan maging maingat tayo kaysa sa magsisi sa dulo,” he added. “Multi-point contact tracing ang ginagawa natin dito sa Marikina. Three parallel tracing to cross reference the results. This is being done to validate.”

Image from the Marikina Public Information Office

According to Teodoro, the vendor exhibited COVID-19 like symptoms, but was not tested for coronavirus infection before he died — a problem, he said, that could have been solved if their testing centers were able to make tests.

“Namatay siya tatlong araw matapos kakitaan ng sintomas. Hindi na-test ‘yung namatay kaya hindi pa tukoy kung COVID-19 ang kinamatay niya. Ito ang problema kung hindi tayo nakakapag-testing,” he explained.

“Seventy-two years old na kasi siya. Maaring immuno-compromised na rin siya dahil sa advanced age niya. Matagal na siyang nagtitinda sa palengke, ‘yun na talaga ang hanapbuhay niya,” he added.

The portion closed will be subjected to disinfection, and will be open to the public again.  While aggressive contact tracing is being conducted in Barangays Sta. Elena, San Roque, Sto. Nino, Teodoro still asked people who have been in contact with the vendor to visit the CESU and submit themselves to interviews.

As of 3PM of April 20, 2020, Marikina City has recorded 89 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 18 of which have died while 13 have recovered.  The city also has one probable case, and 22 suspect patients.

https://www.facebook.com/MarikinaPIO/photos/a.555509487796691/3583853171628959/?type=3&theater

The Department of Health said that they have recorded 6,459 infected patients all over the country, with 429 casualties and 613 recoveries.

Worldwide, over 2.40 million individuals have been infected, while 165,788 have died from the disease and 620,696 have recovered from it.

EDV