Quezon town frees village under COVID-19 lockdown

LUCENA CITY –– The local government of Catanauan town in Quezon province on Tuesday lifted its “lockdown” order in a village after health authorities reported the recovery of five local coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.

Mayor Ramon Orfanel announced on his Facebook page the lifting of the lockdown order in Barangay 10 Poblacion – Zone 1 and 2, effective Tuesday noon.

The Rural Health Unit of Catanauan reported that out of 12 validated COVID-19 patients on its record, five of them had already recovered.

On Monday, the local government conducted massive disinfection around the local market premises for the resumption of business transactions.

On June 3, the town located in the Bondoc Peninsula district registered its first confirmed virus carrier from Barangay Dahican and placed the village under extended isolation until June 20 to prevent the spread of the virus.

He also placed Barangay 10 under lockdown after the area recorded additional COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring town of General Luna, the first local virus carrier, who got her COVID-19 infection from the Catanauan market last week, has been tested negative on her second laboratory test.

General Luna Mayor Matt Erwin Florido said the third swab test of the 36-year-old woman was still being scheduled.

“She is in a stable condition at the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City,” Florido reported on his Facebook Tuesday noon.

Quezon, which remains under general community quarantine, has a total of 146 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday morning.

At least 107 of the patients have recovered, but 10 others had died, the latest bulletin from the Quezon Public Information Office showed.

The province now has 29 active virus carriers.

LZB