MINALIN, Pampanga – Barangay Sto. Domingo here was placed on hard lockdown starting Monday, July 13, to Sunday, July 19, after three cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported in the area.
The lockdown was recommended by Minalin Mayor Edgar Flores and Barangay Chairperson Edmond Atienza that will also allow the testing of 50 close contacts of the three COVID-19 patients.
“ We will endorse it to the Regional IATF (inter-agency task force) na ila-lockdown natin for seven days ang Barangay Sto Domingo ng Minalin to make sure na lahat ng contact tracing po maayos po muna natin. Sana maintindihan niyo po kami, di naman po para sa amin to, kundi para sa inyo din to make sure na ma-stop na natin yung virus kaagad (We will endorse to the Regional IATF to lockdown Barangay Sto. Domingo for seven days in Minalin to make sure that all contract tracing were done, I appeal for your understanding, this is not for us but for you, to make sure we stop the virus from spreading),” said Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, who issued the lockdown order.
Minalin has three active cases, and all are confined at the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DPMMH).
The whole province has 178 total confirmed cases with 17 fatalities.
Alarmed by the swift rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, Pineda gave directives to local government executives to discourage home quarantine as those people exhibiting symptoms must be brought to quarantine facilities.
“Isa po sa inapela ko sa mga mayors natin na ayaw ko po ng home quarantine, once na nagkaroon ng close contact, kausapin ang pamilya kailangan naming kunin agad para we’ve make sure na di kumalat po yung virus (I appeal to mayors that I don’t want home quarantine, once there was close contact, talk to the family that we need to get them to make sure the virus won’t spread),”Pineda emphasized.