The Muntinlupa City government has placed two additional areas under lockdown due to the alarming rise in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi ordered a 14-day Extreme Localized Community Quarantine (ELCQ) at Purok 3, Molera Compound in Brgy. Sucat and Purok 7, Beatriz Compound, De Mesa L & B Street in Brgy. Alabang starting at 6 p.m. of Aug. 13 to 6 p.m. of Aug. 27.
This brings the number of areas under lockdown in Muntinlupa to five in four days since the start of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) last Aug. 6.
The first area placed under ELCQ from Aug. 10 to Aug. 15 was Chico Street, Laguerta in Brgy. Tunasan.
On Aug. 12, the city government placed Block 8, Hills View and Mangga Street, Lakeview Homes, both in Brgy. Putatan, under lockdown until Aug. 25.
Muntinlupa City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Juancho Bunyi said the Sucat and Alabang communities under lockdown have clustering of cases, high attack rates, and narrow doubling time or the number of days for local COVID-19 cases to double in number.
In Molera Compound, Purok 3, there are five active cases out of a total of 21 individuals as of Aug. 13. The area has a high attack rate of 238 cases per 10,000 population and a narrow doubling time of two days.
The CHO also recorded 19 children over five years old and two children below five years old who are at risk in the area.
In Purok 7, Beatriz Compound, there are 10 active cases out of a total of 176 individuals as of Aug. 13.
The attack rate in the community is at 568.18 cases per 10,000 population and the doubling time is at two days. Vulnerable groups are also present in the area with 22 senior citizens, 24 children who are more than five years old, and 29 children under five years old.
Bunyi said clustering of cases was observed in the communities and minimum public health practices such as social distancing and the strict use of face masks are not strictly followed. The communities are also congested with houses located close to one another.
The local health officer said total lockdown protocols will be implemented in the areas of concern and residents will be prohibited to go out of their residences.
“We will implement a total lockdown. For essential workers like doctors, nurses, paramedics, if they are going out, they will not be allowed to go back. They need to stay in the hospital or where they work until the end of the lockdown,” said Bunyi.
In addition to the reinforcement of mass testing and contact tracing in the areas, the Muntinlupa CHO is eyeing to conduct house-to-house vaccination for affected residents.
The City Social Service Department and barangays will provide food packs and other basic items to the affected residents during the ELCQ.
Muntinlupa police will secure the two communities to ensure that health protocols are followed.
Fresnedi urged city residents to exercise extra caution this season as the rise of COVID-19 cases is alarming.
He also encouraged the public to avail the vaccination service of the city government, especially during the ECQ, for them to have an added protection against the adverse effects of COVID-19.
As of Aug. 13, Muntinlupa’s active COVID-19 rose to 1,252 out of 16,147 confirmed cases, 14,492 recoveries, and 403 deaths.