Residents in areas under granular lockdown barred to leave for vaccination schedule -- DILG
By Chito Chavez
Individuals in areas placed under granular lockdown will be prohibited to leave their residence even if they have scheduled COVID-19 vaccination, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) disclosed Friday, Sept. 17.

Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya explained that areas under granular lockdown have confirmed COVID-19 cases or a clustering of infections, thus, they are considered as "critical zones."
“So those people who are in the critical zone, they are at risk. Or they may already be infected with COVID. Therefore, it does not make sense for us to allow them to go to a vaccination (site), even if their schedule falls within the period when they are under lockdown,” Malaya said in a television interview with ANC.
But, the DILG spokesperson clarified that those unable to attend their vaccine schedules due to granular lockdowns will be prioritized once the restrictions are lifted.
“Once they have finished the lockdown, they will be the priority in the vaccination,” Malaya said.
Meanwhile, the DILG has discouraged the practice of home quarantine as he maintained that there are "enough rooms" in the isolation facilities that can accommodate the COVID-positive individuals.
Situation on the ground showed otherwise as major hospitals in Metro Manila and elsewhere have declared full capacity, while isolation facilities are also nearing maximum capacity.
Still, Malaya stressed the need for infected individuals and others with direct or close contacts with COVID-19 patients to be quartered in a quarantine facility since the transmission of virus now occurs in the residences and not only in gatherings or working places.
“We seriously and strongly discourage people from isolating themselves in their homes even if they have their own rooms and bathrooms precisely because our data has shown that the spread of COVID is not limited anymore, it's not done during social gatherings or in work places,’’ he added.