Guagua mayor extends public market lockdown for 3rd time

GUAGUA— Mayor Dante Torres appeared on social media on Wednesday as he announced a third extension of the lockdown of the Guagua Public Market until September 1, Tuesday as he required all public market vendors to secure chest scans and accomplish health declaration forms.

Torres said that since swab tests are expensive chest x-rays can at least give municipal doctors a look into the respiratory health of the vendors. He added that the move came after consultation with several health providers and doctors.

The mayor added that the regular health declarations would still be required. The chest scans will be processed by municipal doctors. This is in preparation for the opening of the Guagua Public Market on September 2, Wednesday.

Torres has extended the lockdown of the Guagua

Public Market for the second time from August 24 to 26 as the municipal government imposed stricter health protocols for vendors and workers requiring them to accomplish health declaration forms.

He said that the extension aims to provide time for more health restrictions in place before the opening of the public market on Thursday.

Some 19 infections emanating from the public market were recorded by the town. One of the patients who got the virus from the market had died. Guagua currently has 93 confirmed cases with 17 recoveries and seven deaths.

Torres said the extension is aimed at ensuring that the town has traced and isolated all known contacts of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients. He added that stricter safety measures will be implemented before the market will be opened to the public.

The mayor said the town's slaughterhouse, which has since been relocated to San Rafael, will also be closed temporarily.

The Guagua Public Market is the biggest in Pampanga at 1.7 hectares and consists of 10 buildings. It serves the needs of second district towns, as well as coastal towns of Macabebe and Masantol. The market had been on lockdown since August 17.

Torres issued Executive Order 39-A on Monday, August 17, requiring all individuals to wear face shields in all public spaces in the town to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.