48-hour lockdown to be enforced in Sampaloc, Manila, police chief confirms
By Minka Tiangco
The Manila Police District (MPD) chief confirmed that a 48-hour lockdown will be enforced in Sampaloc, Manila amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
However, Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda said the city government has yet to issue a definite date on when they will implement the lockdown.
“Yes, that’s true, but there is no definite date when we will impose the lockdown,” Miranda said in a text message to reporters.
Although it is still unclear why Sampaloc will be placed under lockdown, data from the city government showed that it is the district with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Manila as of the afternoon of April 18.
Sampaloc has 95 COVID-19 cases, more than 40 cases than Tondo 1, the second district with the highest number of cases in the city.
The Philippine capital now has a total of 432 COVID-19 cases, with 47 deaths and 56 recovered patients.
Earlier, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso ordered the 24-hour shutdown of Barangay 20 in Tondo after residents engaged in leisure activities, such as boxing and bingo, amid the enhanced community quarantine.
During this period, no one is allowed to leave their houses, except health workers, police officers, and other essential workers. All commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, and other activities in the area have also been temporarily banned.
Mass testing was also conducted during the lockdown, where seven probable COVID-19 cases were found.