The Muntinlupa City government imposed a granular lockdown in an entire condominium building after a surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases including one resident who died from the virus.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi ordered the Anala Tower of Anuva Residences in Brgy. Buli to be put under a 15-day Extreme Localized Community Quarantine (ELCQ) starting at 6 p.m. of Aug. 31 to 6 p.m. of Sept. 15, the 12th community in Muntinlupa to be placed under lockdown since Aug. 10.
The extreme lockdown will affect 479 occupants of Anala Tower, which has high risk groups including 17 senior citizens, two persons with disability, one pregnant woman and 11 children aged 5 years and below.
The imposition of a granular lockdown was recommended by the City Health Office (CHO), which recorded a surge in COVID-19 cases in the building from two patients in the previous week, or an attack rate of 41.75 per 10,000 population, to eight patients as of Aug. 31, or an attack rate 167.01 per 10,000 population.
Of the latest confirmed cases, one patient died while the doubling time is two days, or the number of days before COVID-19 cases doubles in number.
Attack rate, according to the World Health Organization, “is defined as the proportion of those who became ill after a specified exposure.”
In a virtual meeting, Fresnedi told Anuva Residences general manager Erwin de Guzman the imposition of total lockdown protocols for the residential condominium as preventive measure against further transmission.
Under the ELCQ, no resident will be allowed to leave the premises including authorized persons outside of residence (APOR), except for emergencies. The mayor said those who are coming from work who are outside of the building after the start of the lockdown will be allowed to return to their condominium units but will be barred from going out again.
Anuva Residences property manager Kurt Iremedio discussed their management’s initiatives to contain the virus in the condominium building. He said the management has imposed a granular lockdown for the building starting last Aug. 27 before the ELCQ was imposed.
Iremedio noted that the management closed its facilities including the swimming pool, alfresco lounge, sky lounge and garden area seating. It also prohibited the residents to do any form of outdoor exercise, staycation or any form of visits from guests.
Construction and other repair works were also suspended, while food and non-food deliveries were only allowed at the designated drop-off area.
The CHO will conduct a mass swab testing in the building while Muntinlupa police will enforce lockdown measures. The City Social Service Department and barangay will provide food packs and other basic items to the affected residents during the ELCQ.
Other areas under granular lockdown in Muntinlupa are Unira Compound, Sto. Niño, Brgy. Tunasan from Aug. 29 to Sept. 13; Dizon Compound, Number 22, St. Bernard Street, San Jose Village in Brgy. Cupang from Aug. 28 to Sept. 12; Mahogany Street and Kamagong Street in Villa Carolina 2 Subdivision, Brgy. Tunasan from Aug. 24 to Sept. 8; Building 2, BLISS Complex, Brgy. Putatan from Aug. 23 to Sept. 7; Building 17 at Filinvest Socialized Housing, Brgy. Alabang from Aug. 19 to Sept. 2; and Angelo, Horilleno, Endencia, Paredes, and Barrera Streets in Katarungan Village 1, Brgy. Poblacion from Aug. 19 to Sept. 2.
The areas where the ELCQ was lifted are Purok 3, Molera Compound in Brgy. Sucat and Purok 7, Beatriz Compound, De Mesa L & B Street in Brgy. Alabang, which was on lockdown from Aug. 6 to 27; Block 8, Hills View and Mangga Street, Lakeview Homes in Brgy. Putatan from Aug. 12 to 26; and Chico Street, Laguerta in Brgy. Tunasan from Aug. 10 to 25.
Meanwhile, Muntinlupa has reached the 20,000 mark in total confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 31. The city has 2,543 active cases out of 20,009 confirmed cases, 17,071 recoveries and 449 reported deaths.
Fresnedi reminded residents to take extra caution amid the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in the city.