IT GETS STRICTER IN MANILA
All establishments closed, except for funeral homes and pharmacies, with residents ‘strictly confined’ to houses
The whole of Sampaloc—the district with the highest number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Manila— would be placed on a 48-hour “hard lockdown” beginning on Thursday, according to Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
On Tuesday, Domagoso signed an executive order declaring a lockdown in the area composed of 192 barangays from 8 p.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Saturday to combat the spread of the virus. During the 48-hour period, the city government would conduct “disease surveillance, verification or testing and rapid risk assessment in relation to COVID-19.”
Data from the local government showed that 99 of the 458 confirmed cases in the city were from Sampaloc district while there were 159 other suspected cases.
Domagoso said the hard lockdown was being announced early to give residents enough time to buy food and other essential supplies as all commercial establishments, except for drug stores and funeral homes, would be closed.
All barangay-issued quarantine passes would also be temporarily void during the 48hour period.
Every resident should be “strictly confined” to their houses with only front-liners such as healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, service workers in pharmacies and funeral parlors, barangay officials and media workers accredited by the Presidential Communications Operations Office exempted from the order.
Domagoso directed police station commanders in the Sampaloc district to deploy their men to ensure the proper implementation of the lockdown.
Violators would be brought to a sports complex instead of jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in police precincts, he added.
Domagoso said that the lockdown was based on the assessment of different departments working on the [health] crisis, including his office, the Manila Police District and Manila Health Department.
“A decision was made to implement this new policy for the good of the constituents… Many Sampaloc residents sought the help of the city government for the total lockdown of the district because many individuals were breaking quarantine. Many people were following the lockdown protocols, but there were also those who were disregarding the lockdown. These few individuals who were not following the government measures contribute to the growing number of cases,” he added.
Last week, Domagoso placed an entire barangay under a 24-hour lockdown after around 100 residents were caught on video gathered on the street to watch a boxing match. A total of 21 residents who exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 were later tested.