The Manila city government ordered Arranque Market to be temporarily closed for a week, starting on Feb. 27, after seeing a rise in COVID-19 infections among its vendors and helpers.
Manila Market Administration Office Head Zenaida Mapoy said 39 out of 127 vendors and helpers have tested positive for the disease as of Tuesday, March 2.
Of this figure, 23 are residents of the city while the rest are from Bulacan, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Navotas, Pasay, Malabon, and Mandaluyong.
In her report to Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, Mapoy said they have not yet determined the source of the COVID-19 outbreak in the public market.
"With the further information that it is only in Arranque Market where we have stallholders selling live birds, ducks, chickens and almost all kinds of pet animals and we do not know the exact source of the current outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Arranque Market," her report read.
"At this time, there is no evidence that animals in Arranque Market could have played a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2," she added.
Mapoy said the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has conducted at least seven misting operations at Arranque Market to minimize infection.