The Quezon City government has expanded the lockdown in Barangay West Kamias to include additional 12 families in the area.

Last March 3, No. 46, K-9th Street in Barangay West Kamias was placed under the city’s special concern lockdown (SCL) after identifying 3 coronavirus cases in a population of 60 individuals. The compound with 27 families of renters and informal settlers was identified to be a hotspot. 72 individuals from the said area have undergone RT-PCR test which resulted to the identification of 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Thereafter, the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) extended the granular lockdown to include No. 47-50 of the K-9th street where an additional of 12 families consisting of 38 individuals are residing. The 12 families in No. 47-50 will undergo RT-PCR test this week.

The Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit imposes special concern lockdowns in compounds, streets, or alleys where clustering and high-risk community transmission have been observed in order to curtail further spread. These areas will be under lockdown for a minimum of 14 days but may be extended according to the number of cases that will be further identified.

The affected families will be provided with food packs and essential kits.

“With the alarming surge in numbers the past few days, it is imperative to place areas with clustered cases under lockdown to control the possibility of widespread transmission in our barangays,” CESU Head Dr. Rolly Cruz said.

Aside from the above mentioned area in Barangay West Kamias, 11 other areas are under the localized lockdown: portion of Durian St. in Barangay Pasong Tamo; L. Pascual Street in Barangay Baesa; De Los Santos Compound, Heavenly Drive in Barangay San Agustin; 49 & 51 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., in Barangay Dona Josefa; Paul St. and Thaddeus St., Jordan Park Homes Subdivision, Dona Carmen in Barangay Commonwealth; No. 64 ,14th Ave. in Barangay Socorro; No. 64-B Agno Extension in Barangay Tatalon; No. 237 Apo St., in Barangay Maharlika; No. 90 Gonzales Compound in Barangay Balon-bato; No. 2A-4 K-6th in Barangay West Kamias; and portion of Sitio 5, Jose Abad Santos in Barangay Sta. Lucia.

In these 12 areas with special concern lockdown, a total of 472 families were affected and swab tests are still being conducted.

Meanwhile, Mayor Joy Belmonte ordered the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), barangays and other concerned city offices to strictly implement ordinances aimed at suppressing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) amid the sudden surge in the number of cases in the last few days.

In a memorandum dated March 8, 2021, Belmonte said the noticeable surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) “warrants for a more stringent implementation of existing ordinances and issuances” to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Quezon City.

“This memorandum shall be strictly implemented all Punong Barangays, QCPD Director and Police Station Commanders, and the Law and Order Cluster of the City Government,” said Belmonte.

Authorities are ordered to observe and enforce the city’s various ordinances, including the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields in public places.

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