The Quezon City government is closely monitoring all closed-setting and long-term care facilities following recent COVID-19 outbreaks in orphanages and convents.

“Hindi pwedeng reactive tayo sa tuwing magkakaroon ng outbreak. Nakikita natin na sunod-sunod na ang mga reported outbreak sa ganitong high-risk facilities, unahan na natin (We cannot be reactive every time there is an outbreak. We see a series of reported outbreaks in such high-risk facilities, let's go ahead). We will test them and check if they have strict health protocols in place,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Belmonte directed the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) to determine the vaccination status of all individuals staying and working in these facilities.

“Kailangan nating malaman kung may bakuna ba ang mga ito at gaya ng ginawa natin sa ibang nursing homes at opisina, tayo na ang pupunta sa kanila para sila ay mabakunahan kung marami sa kanila ang takot lumabas o ayaw lumabas ngayong panahon ng pandemya (We need to know if they have already been vaccinated, and as we have done in other nursing homes and offices, we will go to them so that they can be vaccinated if many of them are afraid to go out or do not want to go out during the pandemic),” she said.

The city government has already provided paracetamol, vitamins, hygiene kits, face masks, alcohol, soap, rice, and food packs to the affected individuals.

Read more: COVID-19 outbreak hits QC orphanage; 122 infected, mostly children, 114 nuns, staff of QC convent test positive for COVID-19, COVID-19 outbreak hits another QC convent; 22 individuals infected