Navotas locks down as COVID cases spike
Navotas City Mayor Tobias “Toby” Tiangco on Monday night confirmed that the country’s fishing capital will once again be placed under lockdown.
This is being done due to the surge of new coronavirus infections in the city for the past few days following the implementation of the more relaxed general community quarantine.
Tiangco said a two-week lockdown will be implemented starting 5 a.m. on Thursday, 16 July until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, 29 July.
He added that a full set of guidelines will be issued once this is finalized.
As COVID-19 cases continue to spike, some patients have been transported to the We Heal as One Centers located at the World Trade Center and the Philippine Arena, which serve as isolation facilities.
Tiangco disclosed that even the city’s frontliners have tested positive for the coronavirus, limiting the city’s manpower.
The city’s two community isolation facilities at Navotas National High School and Navotas Polytechnic College have a combined 210-bed capacity, which presently are all occupied.
In a radio interview, Tiangco disclosed that even the city’s frontliners have tested positive for the coronavirus, limiting the city’s manpower.
During the two-week lockdown, residents will be allowed to go to work, but outdoor exercise will be banned.
Shops and businesses, on the other hand, will be allowed to remain open, but restaurants and other food establishments will only be allowed to offer takeout service.
Residents may have to use their quarantine passes again, especially when going to the market, which will be scheduled thrice a week only, to buy their necessities.
Tiangco said he has asked assistance for the deployment of a police force, which will be tasked to enforce order during the lockdown period.
As of 12 July, 10 p.m., Navotas City has reported a total of 931 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 325 recoveries and 59 deaths.