6 areas in Quezon town on lockdown due to surge of COVID-19 cases

LUCENA CITY – At least six sitios (sub-village) in Pagbilao, Quezon have been placed under temporary lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the municipality.

The local government announced on social media Saturday afternoon that the Pagbilao COVID Task Force had placed the sub-villages of Capalos, Manga, Vincent, Martin Hills, Martin Hills 2 and San Isidro in Barangay Ibabang Polo under strict isolation protocols starting December 20 until January 3.

“This is very unfortunate because of the coming Christmas and New Year. I’m appealing for understanding from the affected villagers. But we have to do it to protect the town from the spread of COVID-19,” Pagbilao Mayor Sheirre Ann Portes-Palicpic, said in a phone interview on Saturday.

Portes-Palicpic explained that from the present total number of 64 active virus carriers in the locality, most of them are from the six sub-villages. She did not elaborate.

She said local health authorities have been conducting aggressive contact tracing and swab testing to residents in the sub-villages.

As a precaution, all residents of the isolated sitios are prohibited from going out of their respective sub-villages.

Only those who would seek emergency medical attention and have passes to buy essential goods were exempted from the strict quarantine protocol.

The residents are also not allowed from going out of their houses except for essential tasks.

The restrictions also prohibit the return of locally stranded individuals or balikbayan to the six areas until the end of the lockdown period.

Authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) from other villages will be allowed to enter Ibabang Polo but are restricted in lockdown areas.

All construction activities and similar works in the sitios are likewise prohibited during the lockdown period.

The local government will provide relief packs and food aid to affected residents, the public announcement said.

As of Saturday afternoon, Pagbilao has recorded 355 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic erupted in early March based from the records of the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

The COVID-19 death toll in the municipality reached to 11 and least three of them died this month.

Quezon has recorded 6,014 COVID-19 cases, with 177 deaths, 520 active cases, and 5,317 recoveries as of Saturday.

EDV