Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has ordered that the entire first district of Manila be placed on “hard lockdown” from 5 a.m. Sunday, May 3, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 5.
Domagoso yesterday signed Executive Order No. 22, authorizing the lockdown to enable members of the Manila Health Department can conduct disease surveillance, verification, or testing, and rapid risk assessment in Tondo District 1.
Those who will test positive during the rapid testing will undergo confirmatory swab testing at nearby designated testing sites – Rosauro Almario Elementary School, Timoteo Paez Integrated School, Tondo High School, and Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School.
In his city address last Wednesday, the Manila mayor said they moved to put the district on lockdown due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and quarantine violators.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Tondo District 1 has 83 confirmed COVID-19 cases, making it the second district in the city with the highest number of cases, next to Sampaloc that has 106 cases and was the first district in the city to be placed under a 48-hour lockdown.
Barangay 20 in Tondo District 1 had been put on a 24-hour lockdown after the city government received reports that residents continue to engage in leisure activities, such as boxing and bingo, despite the enhanced community quarantine.
Domagoso also said that they are mulling over the possibility of putting other areas in the city, San Andres, Malate, and Sta. Cruz, under hard lockdown.
During the hard lockdown in the first district, no one will be allowed to leave their houses except health workers and persons having a medical emergency, law enforcers, government workers, service workers from pharmacies, funeral home establishments, public utility companies, delivery, banking, and media.
Vendors in the Divisoria area within Barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 will also be allowed to continue selling goods in accordance with the time and place prescribed by the city government.
Those who are not residing in Tondo District 1 but are included in the exemptions mentioned will also be permitted to go to the area.
“With respect to non-residents of District 1 of Tondo, Manila, passing through the said district may be allowed provided the non-resident is an authorized person outside residence in accordance with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases guidelines,” Domagoso said.
“Performance of essential services within the said locality by non-residents of District 1 of Tondo, Manila such as delivery of food as well as maintenance and repair of electric, telecommunications, water, sanitation, and transport facilities may be allowed.” (Minka Tiangco)