13 COVID-19 cases in QC placed under home quarantine

Thirteen of Quezon City's 62 confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have been placed under home quarantine.

According to Saleema Refran's Tuesday report on "24 Oras", the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has determined that the patients are undergoing self-isolation at their homes.

Five patients living in urban poor communities have been transferred to Hope 1 Hotel-Quarantine Facility. A COVID-19 patient needing dialysis has been transferred to the hospital.

Quezon City on Tuesday reported additional 13 new cases of COVID-19 in the city with three reported deaths, and one recovery.

According to the report, the three new casualties had pre-existing medical conditions and all had died before testing positive for the virus:

•     a 74-year-old male who died on March 13;
•     a 63-year-old female who died on March 17; and
•     a 60-year-old male who died on March 22.

"The problem is, 'yun nga late na nila nalalaman na ito ay COVID-positive, so wala silang precaution na ginagawa during sa pag-aalaga nila sa patient," said Rolly Cruz, the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief.

The close contacts of the patients have been quarantined and are being monitored.

Three of the news cases reported in the city are hospital personnel.

Of the number, two are female doctors, aged 27 and 56 , and one is a 35-year-old male hospital staff.

The 57-year-old wife of the Greenhills shopowner who died of COVID-19 has also tested positive for the virus.

Areas under quarantine

Some areas in Barangay Pasong Tamo has been placed under extreme enhanced community quarantine after four cases from different houses tested positive for the virus.

An area in Barangay San Isidro Labrador has also been placed under extreme enhanced quarantine because of the lack of space between houses.

Meanwhile, a portion of  Barangay Central has been placed under facility quarantine due to the presence of a hospital in the area.

Some subdivisions have also taken the initiative to tighten security measures.

"Wala po'ng katotohanan na pinapa-lockdown po natin ang mga subdivision," Myke Marasigan of the QC disaster risk reduction and management office said.

"Ngunit may mga home-owners association, no, mga villages na nag-decide on their own," he added.

Meanwhile, a 24-hour liquor ban has been implemented in Barangay Matandang Balara to prevent the further spread of the virus.

"Kasi napupuna po namin 'yung ibang mamamayan bumibili ng alak, nag-iinuman, nag-tutumpukan, at minsan 'yung iba nag tatagayan. Syempre palitan ng baso, so maaring maging dahilan para magkaroon ng hawaan," Barangay Chairperson Allan Franza said.  -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News