QC PR
The Quezon City government has lifted the special concern lockdown (SCL) on a densely-populated area after 60 out of 93 confirmed cases recovered, and the remaining have been transferred to HOPE Facilities.
Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo said the lockdown in Kaingin Bukid in Brgy. Apolonio Samson was removed upon the recommendation of the City Health Department after 28 days.
“Given that most of the confirmed cases in Kaingin Bukid have recovered, and the rest are already quarantined in our HOPE facilities, it was suggested to have the lockdown lifted,” said Kimpo.
However, Kimpo ordered barangay officials in the area to implement the general community quarantine (GCQ) guidelines, protocols for minimum health standards, and the enforcement of Hot Zones for households of suspect or confirmed cases to make sure that the threat of community transmission will be mitigated.
Kimpo said police will remain in Kaingin Bukid, which has a population of 4,756, for one week to ensure health protocols are implemented and to observe the transition from Special Concern Lockdown to GCQ.
The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), headed by Dr. Rolly Cruz, and the District Health Officer, Dr. Laarni Malapit conducted 1,353 rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and 621 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in the area.
Meanwhile, Kimpo said the SCL on a portion of 70 Mendez Street in Barangay Baesa was extended for seven days.
The said street, a highly populated urban poor area, is situated along a waterway with a single and narrow passageway, making it very high risk for community transmission.
The 14-day SCL on the area was supposed to end last July 10 but it was extended pending the RT-PCR test results of 167 individuals.
Cruz said the CESU has already conducted a total of 250 RT-PCR tests. Of this, CESU received 83 results and all turned out positive for COVID-19. Because of this the City Health Department decided to extend the SCL implementation while waiting for the remaining 167 RT-PCR test results.
Mayor Joy Belmonte reiterated the importance of SCL in controlling the spread of the virus to other areas.
“Ang SCL ay epektibong paraan upang mapigil ang community transmission ng COVID-19, mahanap agad ang mga positibong kaso sa pamamagitan ng agarang pag-test, at mahiwalay sila agad sa komunidad upang hindi na makahawa,” said Belmonte.
