50 rounded up in QC for quarantine violation

Around 50 individuals loitering outside their homes and failed to present their quarantine pass issued by the local government were rounded up by authorities in Quezon City.

Many of those detained by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for staying outdoors despite the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine were minors and women, according to Saleema Refran's Thursday report on 24 Oras.

"Wala po'ng binibigay na quarantine pass. Ilang beses na po kami pabalik-balik ng barangay, puro bukas, bukas, bukas. Tapos pag-namigay ng ayuda, hindi rin lahat. Pinipili lang rin po," a resident, however, complained.

These individuals and the passengers aboard motorcycles were only reprimanded by officials and then given instructions to return to their homes.

Local authorities also scolded those with passengers on motorcycles.

Due to stricter enforcement of social distancing measures, lines of people had reached around the street. As they were under the sun, they were moved to the other side of the road.

"Marami pa ho'ng matitigas ang ulo at alam naman nila na nakakatakot na itong virus na kumakalat sa ating bansa," Lieutenant Colonel Romulus Gadaoni, the station 6 commander, said.

"[S]umunod lamang po sila at para maiwasan natin 'yung pagkalat ng coronavirus 2019," he added.

Quezon City has also implemented a liquor ban effective immediately for the whole quarantine period.

"Kasi pag nag-iinuman ka, nag-sasalang- nag-she-share 'yan ng baso, eh., nagta-tagay-tagay. Kung hindi man, pag naka-inom na medyo hindi na nag o-observe ng proper hygiene," a local official said.

Establishments caught selling liquor will face suspension or revocation of business permit while those caught drinking will be charged and arrested.

There are 87 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Quezon City with 13 recorded fatalities.

The three newest casualties were exposed to COVID-19 patients.

As of present, previous clusters were seen still increasing such as those with exposure in Greenhills and those exposed in three hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health is looking to Quezon Institute as a possible quarantine facility.

"Mayroon tayong tinatawag na community quarantine facilities na bubuksan din naman natin. Meron tayong very first one dito sa Quezon Institute at iyon ay bubuksan natin soon," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

"Inaayos lang namin kaya ngayon ang ginagawa natin, ginagawa na natin 'yung mga pamantayan para dito," she added.

Quezon City University Alternative Health Care Facility may house four to six persons under investigation with mild symptoms per room.

"'Yun ang susundin natin, of course, 'yung mga criteria na 'yan kasi we're going to treat this as a health facility also. So mayroong mga health worker na magma-man ng mga areas na 'yon," City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief Rolly Cruz said.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office conducted a wide-spread disinfection. -- Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News