7 villages on lockdown in Quezon town due to surge of COVID-19 cases

LUCENA CITY – The number of villages placed under lockdown in Guinayangan town in Quezon province rose to seven on Saturday after a new positive case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was added to the seven cases reported on Friday (July 17).

Guinayangan Mayor Cesar Isaac III declared that the villages of Danlagan Central, Danlagan Reserva, and Bukal Maligaya have also been placed under isolation after Tikay, Aloneros, Danlagan Batis, and Gapas were placed under the same restrictions on Friday.

The town now has 10 COVID-19 cases, but the first patient has recovered.

Authorities said the seven new patients contracted the virus from the locality’s second COVID-19 patient recorded on July 14. More suspected virus carriers who had also made contacts still await the results of their laboratory test.

Citing initial information, Isaac said Patient #2 was infected by a visitor from out of town.

To prevent further transmission, Isaac said the Municipal Health Office has decided to impose a “mandatory 14 days quarantine” for new arrivals in the locality.

“It’s either at the local government isolation facility or barangay isolation unit,” he stated on the social media page of the municipal public information office.

He explained that the restrictions also cover returning local overseas workers who have no quarantine certificate from the Department of Health and a negative swab test result.

Meanwhile, two other COVID-19 cases were recorded in Tayabas City and Atimonan town, the provincial information office said Saturday.

Quezon has recorded 231 COVID-19 cases, with 13 deaths, 50 active cases, and 168 recoveries.

/MUF