CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The city police station here was put under lockdown on Saturday after four police trainees, a police officer, and a non-uniformed personnel (NUP) tested positive for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
City Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan also put the whole city hall complex under limited lockdown status until further notice as he advised the public to temporarily defer their transactions with its various offices.
Mayor Panaligan said no person will be allowed to enter the police station, and visits to inmates who are detained inside the police building were likewise suspended.
A makeshift tent will be put up in front of the station where complaints and other police matters will be entertained by duty policemen.
The female police officer, four police trainees and the NUP personnel are now under observation at the city temporary treatment and monitoring facility, and Panaligan said their isolation will be of great help to prevent the virus from spreading.
Panaligan called on all city residents to stay at home, and strictly observe health and safety protocols issued by the government.
The mayor also requested business owners to shorten their hours of operation, limit their customers as he ordered the Joint Monitoring and Inspection Team of the city government to regularly monitor all business establishments in the city.
Although religious services are allowed in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), he said minors and senior citizens should, as much as possible, defer their attendance at masses and similar church activities since they can now use the electronic media or television for such services.
Biking is prohibited for minors and those below 20 years-old and senior citizens while adult bikers outside the age bracket should be limited only to 10 persons per group.
Zumba dance sessions in barangays are likewise suspended while other government and private offices were told to improvise Work from Home Arrangement (WFHA) or skeleton force or work rotation scheme from August 10 to August 17.
“Let’s work for a voluntary ECQ (enhanced community quarantine). Our fight depends on our personal discipline and this is our responsibility,” said Mayor Panaligan.
The city has recorded 36 confirmed COVID-19 cases from March 18 until yesterday with one death of a non-resident and out of this number, 15 patients were fully recovered.