Sampaloc residents flock to Trabajo Market hours before 'hard lockdown'

Hours before the 48-hour "hard lockdown" takes effect in Manila's Sampaloc District, residents flocked early to Trabajo Market, one of the city's busiest commercial areas, for their supplies.

Mga mamimili, maagang nagtungo sa Trabajo Market ilang oras bago isailalim sa “hard lockdown” ang Sampaloc, Manila. @gmanews @dzbb pic.twitter.com/2XWSNRADMS

— James Agustin (@_jamesJA) April 22, 2020

Police personnel were present to ensure social distancing is observed amid the threat posed by COVID-19.

Citing Manila Police District Station 4, GMA News' James Agustin said over 300,000 residents from 192 barangays, excluding frontliners, will be affected by the hard lockdown.

They will not be allowed to leave their homes for 48 hours, starting from 8 p.m. of April 23 (Thursday) to 8 p.m. of April 25 (Saturday). The quarantine pass given to residents amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community lockdown will not be honored during that period.

Violators, the police said, will be brought to the district's four covered courts. Those with emergency were advised to coordinate with barangay officials.

Some 800 policemen and 150 soldiers will man 31 control points in the district on a rotational basis.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno decided to put Sampaloc District under 48-hour hard lockdown due to the high number of COVID-19 cases there. --KBK, GMA News