QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Muntinlupa City Government is placing a community under localized lockdown, the first area of concern in the city to be under a granular lockdown during the ECQ in Metro Manila this August, in a bid to prevent further COVID-19 transmissions.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi called for an emergency meeting and ordered a 15-day Extreme Localized Community Quarantine (ELCQ) in Chico St., Laguerta in Barangay Tunasan starting 6 p.m. of August 10 until August 25, 6 p.m.

Attending the meeting were Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dr. Juancho Bunyi, PNP Muntinlupa chief Col. Melecio Buslig, DILG Muntinlupa director Bing Ferino, Social Service Department chief Analyn Mercado, City Planning and Development Office acting head Alvin Veron, Brgy. Tunasan capt. Walter Arcilla, and Sama Samang Magkakapit Bahay ng Laguerta president Rowena Magtibay Celorio.

Muntinlupa CHO chief Dr. Juancho Bunyi said the local government decided to declare a granular lockdown in the area after recording a high attack rate of 66.51 per 10,000 population and a narrow doubling time of 4.0 days.

As of August 10, the community has three active cases, one 40 y/o individual and two minors aged 10 and 13 years old. Chico St. in Tunasan is home to 451 residents with the following high risk groups: 19 seniors, 11 PWDs, 2 pregnant women, and 45 children under 5 years old.

Bunyi noted that clustering of cases were observed in the community and minimum public health practices such as social distancing and the strict use of face masks are not strictly followed. Further, CHO noted that the community is congested and houses are close to one another.

CHO is set to conduct a mass testing in the community and will intensify its detection, isolation, and treatment strategies. Contact tracing of close contacts will also be facilitated.

The local government through the Social Service Department and Barangay will provide additional relief food packs and other basic goods during the effectivity of the ELCQ. PNP Muntinlupa is set to secure the community and augment roving personnel in nearby areas to ensure the public’s strict compliance to health protocols.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi asked for the cooperation of the residents from the affected community and urges them to observe health protocols such as frequent hand-washing, wearing of face masks, and physical distancing.

Previously, the local government has placed the following areas in ELCQ: #229 Compound, Purok 1 in Barangay Bayanan last April 1 - 16, St. Anthony St., JPA Subdivision in Brgy. Tunasan and Amparo St. in Brgy. Poblacion last March 26 - April 10, and Cruzero St., Villa Carolina 1 in Barangay Tunasan and 124 Purok 1 in Barangay Cupang last March 13-28.

As of August 9, Muntinlupa City has 15,715 confirmed cases with 14,303 recoveries, 1,016 active cases, 396 reported deaths, 24 suspect cases, and 1,437 probable cases.

As of August 9, there are 353,802 vaccines deployed in Muntinlupa, of which 211,808 are first dose (54.9% of the target) and 146,353 are second dose (37.9% of the target).

(Muntinlupa PIO/PIA-NCR)