More Manila barangays may possibly be placed under hard lockdown, says Mayor Isko

Aside from the Sampaloc District, more areas in Manila may possibly be placed under hard lockdown to control the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Mayor Isko Moreno said on Tuesday.

The city government of Manila earlier said it will place the Sampaloc District under hard lockdown because the rising growth of COVID-19 cases in the area is already bothersome.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Mayor Isko said that if the local government sees the same rising trend of cases in other areas, they will impose the same measure.

“That’s possible. Depende ‘yan sa galaw ng tao. Depende ‘yan sa disiplina. Depende ‘yan sa datos in terms of infection,” he said.

On Monday, the Manila Public Information Office listed over a hundred barangays which it said posed ‘challenges’ in implementing social distancing and enhanced community quarantine protocols.

Citing the Manila Police District, the Manila PIO said the following areas are also being considered to be placed on hard lockdown.

NEWS ALERT: Narito ang mga barangay na maraming pasaway na lumalabag sa enhanced community quarantine protocols at physical distancing measures.

Ayon sa MPD, sila'y itinuturing nang “kandidato” na maaaring isailalim sa “hard lockdown.”

*PS-1 and PS-2#AlertoManileno #COVID19PH pic.twitter.com/ZyUReBZkrC

— Manila Public Information Office (@ManilaPIO) April 20, 2020

“Dina-draft pa lang namin 'yung executive order. Because for the past two days, we've been planning necessary actions attending to some particular effects and needs,” Mayor Isko said.

One of these is the reopening of Ospital ng Sampaloc on Monday. The hospital was temporary closed since Saturday to give way for disinfection after five staff tested positive for COVID-19.

Mayor Isko said community leaders and barangay officials in Sampaloc, where 99 cases were reported, were consulted about the planned hard lockdown this week.

He assured that authorities will be 'sensitive' in its implementation.

As of Monday, Manila has 458 COVID-19 patients and 687 suspected cases. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News