COVID-19 cases from QC pool party rise to 54

MANILA, Philippines — The number of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a pool party in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Quezon City rose from 51 to 54, Mayor Joy Belmonte said Monday.

“Nagconduct tayo ng mass testing and out of 610 na tinest natin, 54 ang nagpositive,” Belmonte said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

Belmonte said the individuals went through COVID-19 testing following a three-day fiesta celebration from May 9 to 11, where they joined a pool party and a drinking binge.

The community has been placed under lockdown since May 14, according to the local government unit.

The City Legal Department has also issued a show cause order to the barangay chairperson.

“Ang tanong po is ito po ba ay may permiso ng punong barangay o hindi niya alam?” Belmonte said.

(The question here is  if the event was allowed or the barangay captain was not aware of it.)

“Hindi ko pa nakakausap pero ayon sa kwento ng mga ininterview ng contact tracers ay ang firetruck ng barangay ang siyang naglagay ng tubig doon sa improvised swimming pool at ang inuman ay naganap sa covered court,” she added.

(I have yet to talk to the barangay captain but based on interviews by contact tracers, it was the firetruck of the barangay that supplied water on the improvised swimming pool and that the drinking session happened at the covered court.)

All of the individuals who participated in the mass gathering will be issued ordinance violation receipts, according to the mayor.

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