The local government of Parañaque City has released two executive orders on the tightening of protocols following the detection of three cases of the COVID-19 South African variant in the area.
Under EO 2021-015, a curfew will be implemented between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. exempting essential workers and individuals with emergencies. Mass gatherings and family reunions are again prohibited through EO 2021-016.
There is no plan yet to implement a city-wide lockdown, but several alleys between Parañaque City and Pasay City were closed down to prevent an increase of cases and the transmission of new variants.
Authorities said health protocol and mass gathering violators will be apprehended and fined ₱1,000. They are urging residents to strictly comply with protocols as the active cases in the city reached 441 from 140 in just two weeks.
The occupancy rate of hospitals and quarantine facilities in the city is still manageable. The three South African variant cases are currently admitted in an isolation facility. Their family members tested negative for COVID-19.
Contact tracing is being conducted in barangays where the new variant cases were located. – Report from Louisa
