By John Aldrin Casinas
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in San Juan City jumped to 35 with three confirmed deaths, the city government announced over the weekend.
As of 10 p.m. Friday, the local government said in an advisory that the city also has 84 persons under investigation (PUIs) and 135 persons under monitoring (PUMs) for the disease.
According to the data disclosed by the city government, most cases were recorded in Barangay Greenhills with 13 confirmed cases.
It noted that none of the patients with COVID-19 are in critical condition.
As part of the city’s measures against the disease, Mayor Francis Zamora said the city government conducts daily sanitation and disinfection in barangays to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“Sinisiguro po natin sa inyo na ang lahat ng 21 barangays ay ating iniikutan,” Zamora said in an advisory. (We assure you that we are going around all 21 barangays.)
Following the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in San Juan, the local government has placed the city under a state of calamity.
It has also passed measures to enforce curfew starting 8 p.m. until 5 p.m. the next day.
The city government has also passed an ordinance that sets a limit on the number of basic goods and necessities that a person can purchase per day. This is to avoid panic buying and prevent consumers from hoarding in this time of crisis.
Due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, the city mayor said law enforcement officers and barangay officials were mandated to ensure that all of the city residents are in their homes.
“Dapat nating ipatupad ang batas at direktibang ito para sa kaligtasan ng lahat,” Zamora said. (We have to enforce these laws and directives for everyone's safety.)
Based on the latest tally of the Department of Health, the Philippines currently has 230 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 18 fatalities and eight recoveries.