The Makati City local government unit (LGU) has placed under granular lockdown the H. Santos Street in Brgy. Tejeros on Thursday.
“I ordered the granular lockdown after noting an increase in the number of COVID-positive cases in the said area. We need to contain the infection by promptly identifying, isolating, and treating infected residents,” Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said.
Binay has assured the affected residents that the LGU is ready to provide them with their essential needs, citing the successful implementation of a localized community quarantine (LCQ) in Brgy. Pio del Pilar last March.
“Having successfully implemented a localized lockdown before, we can assure the affected residents that we will take care of their essential needs while they remain in their homes. We have prepared food packs and other essential items, including COVID-19 home care kits for individuals who tested positive,” she added.
Binay said a “concierge-like” station has been set up within the locked down zone to assist residents, including those who need to buy medicines and other essentials.
The city also deployed swab teams to conduct house-to-house RT-PCR tests, with priority given to symptomatic patients and identifying and tracing their close contacts.
“We will immediately deploy our swab teams to conduct house-to-house swab tests to properly isolate and treat positive patients. I appeal to our Makatizens in H. Santos St. to cooperate so that we can curb the spread of the virus,” she said.
During the initial localized lockdown in Barangay Pio del Pilar, it was lifted in areas where residents tested negative after the first 48 hours dedicated to determining and isolating infected residents. The same will be done in Barangay Tejeros.
Aside from the containment strategy, the city also focuses on treating positive patients with symptoms, hence the provision of COVID-19 home care kits.
Binay said that each kit contains a COVID-19 home care handbook, alcohol, oral antiseptic, sore throat spray, fever pad, medical infrared thermometer, pulse oximeter, washable and disposable face masks, vitamins, and medicine for fever.
“Our goal is to help our citizens recover without the need to go to the hospital so the health care system of the city does not collapse,” Binay said.