Neighbors block COVID-19 patient from his Manila apartment

Residents of a barangay in Tondo, Manila prevented a tenant from returning to his house after testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to Chino Gaston's 24 Oras report on Monday, the patient was advised to self-quarantine at home because he was asymptomatic.

Under Department of Health Memorandum 2020-0108, "persons under investigation (PUIs) and positive COVID-19 patients who exhibit mild symptoms with no co-morbidities and non-elderly are advised to be sent home for strict self-isolation and close monitoring by local health authorities."

But when the ambulance reached Barangay 246, it was unable to pass through due to a barricade residents put up on the street.

"'Wag nang pabalikin dito kasi mas marami hong maaano dito," one of the residents said.

"Tsaka hindi 'yan tiga rito, nangungupahan lang 'yan dito," another resident complained. "Dapat diyan kunin ng magulang sa bahay nila."

According to barangay officials, the 35-year-old patient was tested for the disease at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital last March 15 because he was feeling unwell.

The patient confirmed on social media last March 28 that he was indeed positive for the illness.

The father of the patient appealed for understanding from the residents, saying they had nowhere else to bring his son because hospitals were no longer accepting COVID-19 cases.

He said his son could not return home because he and his wife were senior citizens and were vulnerable to the disease.

"Kulang na lang ho eh pagtulungan kami ng mga tao. Napakasakit eh," the father lamented.

Manila City councilor Macario Lacson arrived and asked the residents to remove the barricade and allow the patient to enter his apartment.

"Papapasukin natin kasi 'yan naman ang protocol sa DOH. Asymptomatic naman sila. It so happened lang na 'yong patient before was not cooperative so 'yong mga tao, justified naman 'yong pag-aalala nila," Lacson said.

However, the parents of the patient eventually decided not to quarantine their son in his apartment amid resistance from the residents.

The patient and his roommate, who was considered a person under investigation, sought temporary shelter at another hospital.

Meanwhile, the DOH urged the Manila City government to open a temporary quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients now that hospitals were full.

As of March 29, the city had 55 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 224 PUIs.

In the country, the number of cases soared to 1,546 on Monday, including 78 deaths.
— Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News