By MB Online and Jhon Aldrin Casinas
The Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City will be placed under a week-long “total lockdown” starting May 7 amid the high number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases recorded in the area.
Mayor Carmelita Abalos in a meeting with the barangay officials, City Health Department, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC), the Philippine Army and Mandaluyong Police. (Facebook /MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Carmelita Abalos made the announcement on Monday after a meeting with the barangay officials, City Health Department, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC), the Philippine Army and Mandaluyong Police.
“Matapos nating makausap si Kapitan Carlito Cernal at kanyang Konseho at sa rekomendasyon ng ating CESU ay inaprubahan ko po na isailalim ang Barangay Addition Hills sa total lockdown sa loob ng isang linggo mula sa Mayo 7, 2020,” Abalos said in her official Facebook page.
(After speaking with Barangay Chairman Carlito Cernal and his Council and on the recommendation of our CESU, I have approved to place Barangay Addition Hills under total lockdown for one week starting May 7, 2020.)
Barangay Addition Hills is one of the villages in the “Tiger City” with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. According to the latest update of the local government, the barangay has 57 confirmed cases with six deaths and 12 recoveries as of May 4.
During the seven-day lockdown, the local chief executive said some 3,000 residents of the barangay will undergo a random rapid mass testing which will be supervised by CESU.
The local government, she added, will also deliver food packs to all residents of the barangay starting Tuesday.
“Maglalabas po tayo ng Executive Order para po sa guidelines ng pagpapatupad nito sa Barangay Addition Hills na ipo-post sa aking Facebook page at sa Mandaluyong Public Information Office,” Abalos said.
(We will issue an Executive Order for the implementation guidelines of the lockdown in Barangay Addition Hills which will be posted on my Facebook page and at the Mandaluyong Public Information Office.)
Meanwhile, the mayor said they are currently studying their next steps to be undertaken for other barangays in the city with a high number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Barangay Mauway has also recorded 57 confirmed COVID-19 cases with eight recoveries and three deaths, but the local government has yet to decide on the measures to be implemented in the area.
As of May 4, there were 418 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mandaluyong City with a total of 36 deaths and 82 recoveries.
The local government credited the high number of COVID-19 cases in the city to the intensified mass testing being conducted in Mandaluyong to persons suspected with the disease.
The Mandaluyong City government has recently partnered with the Philippine Red Cross for the conduct of mass testing in the city. The headquarters of the humanitarian organization is located in Mandaluyong.