At least 18 QC residents given tickets for violating health protocols

At least 18 Quezon City residents were given citation tickets by QC Task Force Disiplina on Saturday morning before 9 a.m. after they were found violating health protocols and quarantine guidelines.

The tickets were given to residents found not wearing face masks in Sitio San Roque in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, according to a report by Luisito Santos on Dobol B TV.

One resident who only had a towel for protection and not a face mask said he was just going to move his motorcycle to make way for a truck.

Other residents ran when they saw members of QC Task Force Disiplina approaching.

Those found not wearing face masks will have to pay a P300 fine for the first offense. Higher fines—P500 for second offense, and P1,000 for third offense—were set by the local government.

Meanwhile, on NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan, three pedicab drivers were caught in the act by the QC Task Force Disiplina drinking liquor by the roadside.

The drivers allegedly put the liquor in mineral water bottles to avoid being spotted immediately.

Under the general community quarantine (GCQ) guidelines issued by the Quezon City government, drinking liquor outdoors or on sidewalks is prohibited.

The local government intensified efforts to ensure compliance to mandated health protocols after a spike in COVID-19 cases was recorded.

On Friday, local authorities rounded up more than 1,700 violators of quarantine protocols.

Quezon City was among the top 15 areas identified by OCTA Research as having a “significant” upward trend in the number of new COVID-19 cases.

The total number of validated COVID-19 cases in the city reached 35,324 on March 12, the local government said.

Of this number, 2,639 are active; 31,825 recovered; while 860 died.

—KG, GMA News