MANILA, Philippines — Various areas in Quezon City have been placed under “special concern lockdown” in a bid to address the locality’s increasing number of COVID-19 infections.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the local government announced that 12 areas – not entire barangays or villages – are currently were on community isolation:
- A portion of Durian Street in Barangay Pasong Tamo – starting February 25
- L. Pascual Street in Barangay Baesa – starting February 26
- De Los Santos Compound, Heavenly Drive in Barangay San Agustin – starting March 1
- No. 49 and 51 E Rodriguez Sr. Ave. in Barangay Doña Josefa – starting March 4
- Paul Street and Thaddeus Street, Jordan Park Homes Subdivision, Doña Carmen in Barangay Commonwealth – starting March 4
- No. 237 Apo Street in Barangay Maharlika – starting March 4
- No. 64 14th Avenue in Barangay Socorro – starting March 6
- No. 64-B Agno Extension in Barangay Tatalon – starting March 7
- No. 90 Gonzales Compound, Barangay Balon Bato – starting March 8
- No. 2A-4 K-6th in Barangay West Kamias – starting March 8
- A portion of Sitio 5, Jose Abad Santos in Barangay Sta. Lucia – starting March 9
- No. 46 and No. 50 K-9th Street in Barangay West Kamias – starting March 8
However, in a separate statement, the local government unit said it has expanded the lockdown in Barangay West Kamias to include No. 47-49 K-9th Street, where an additional 12 families, consisting of 38 individuals, are residing.
A total of 472 families were affected by this partial lockdown.
According to the city government, food packs and essential kits will be distributed to affected families who should undergo swab testing and mandatory 14-day quarantine.
“With the alarming surge in numbers the past few days, it is imperative to place areas with clustered cases under lockdown to control the possibility of widespread transmission in our barangays,” Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) Head Dr. Rolly Cruz said.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte ordered local authorities, including city, police, and barangay officials, to strictly implement ordinances that would curb the spread of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes respiratory ailment COVID-19, amid a quick rise in the number of infections in recent days.
In a memorandum dated March 8, 2021, Belmonte said the noticeable rush in the number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila “warrants for a more stringent implementation of existing ordinances and issuances” that, among others, call for the obligatory wearing of face masks and face shields in public places in order to stop the spread of the disease in Quezon City.
“This memorandum shall be strictly implemented by all Punong Barangays, QCPD Director and Police Station Commanders, and the Law and Order Cluster of the City Government,” Belmonte said.