Calbayog locked down as virus cases rise

MANILA, Philippines — Calbayog City in Samar will be locked down for 14 days beginning today due to an increase in the number of coronavirus disease 2019.

Mayor Ronald Aquino said only establishments providing essential goods and services are allowed to operate. Public transportation is also suspended.

Aquino gave assurance that affected families would receive food packs.

“The situation is burdensome, but the local government has to resort to this measure to contain the spread of the pandemic,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas office said 16 cases were recorded in Calbayog on Wednesday, bringing the total to 485. At least 200 are active cases.

All the new patients were exposed to those who had previously contracted the virus.

Calbayog is among the areas in Eastern Visayas where there are clustering of cases. This means three or more cases were recorded in two consecutive weeks.

The DOH said 657 active cases were recorded in the region on Wednesday. At least 4,404 or 86.1 percent of the total 5,111 cases have recovered.

Meanwhile, two employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are the first confirmed cases in Asipulo town in Ifugao.

Mayor Armando Domilod placed Barangay Antipolo, where the DENR office is located, on lockdown from Oct. 8 to 12 to pave way for disinfection and contact tracing.

Domilod said residents are not allowed to got out except for medical emergencies and essential activities.

Ifugao logged 58 confirmed cases, 11 of them active.

Fake COVID-19 test results

In Rizal, four security personnel of the provincial government were arrested and relieved from their posts in connection with the alleged sale of fake COVID-19 test results.

Gov. Rebecca Ynares said she ordered the police to conduct an entrapment after two other security personnel had been earlier caught selling fake test results.

The Rizal police arrested Arnel Ignacio of Muzon, Taytay and Edgardo Juanillo of Pinugay, Baras for allegedly demanding P1,700 or higher in exchange for fake COVID-19 test results.

“The public should be reminded that COVID-19 testings, whether by swab or rapid, are free. Setting appointments online or walk-in testing as well as the medical certificate of the results are free,” the provincial government said in a statement issued yesterday. – Raymund Catindig, Neil Jayson Servallos