Agora Market reopens today

The measure penalizes violators of mandatory safety measures, such as the proper wearing of mask and physical distancing, with a P3,000 fine for first offense

Agora Market in San Juan City will reopen today, 16 July, after it was closed for 15 days as it underwent cleanup and sanitation after some workers tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The market’s temporary closure was ordered on 1 July when a fish vendor was infected with the virus. He was immediately hospitalized and his close contacts were also swabbed and placed in isolation.

All 647 vendors and workers of Agora Market were then swabbed on 2 and 3 July, with 26 testing positive for the virus. Health and safety protocols were put in place with those who were found positive and their close contacts given immediate medical attention and isolated.

Only those who tested negative and were given a health clearance (blue ID) by the City Health Office will be allowed to return to Agora

Market when it resumes operations today.

The San Juan City Council just passed City Ordinance 45, or the New Normal Ordinance of San Juan City, which sets mandatory safety measures and minimum health protocols, not just in offices and buildings, but in all areas of the city and to be adhered to by all who are in San Juan.

The measure penalizes violators of mandatory safety measures, such as the proper wearing of mask and physical distancing, with a P3,000 fine for first offense and P5,000 or three months imprisonment or both for second or subsequent offenses.

Likewise, there are currently three streets in San Juan City that are under a 15-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

C. Santos Street in Barangay Balong Bato and J. Eustaquio Street in Barangay Progresso will be under ECQ until 22 July, and J. De la Cruz Street in Barangay Salapan until 25 July.

These neighborhoods reported clusters of infection, forcing the city to close them to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Affected families from the said streets have been given food packs for the duration of the ECQ.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense main building and its premises in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City were placed on lockdown effective yesterday afternoon to give way for its disinfection.