Home quarantine violators blamed for Makati COVID-19 spike

After Makati City was found to be one of four Metro Manila localities to be a high-risk COVID-19 area, city health officials conceded that the spike in Makati's cases was likely due to home quarantine violators.

"Kaya po pinu-push po talaga namin na dalhin sila (mga nagpositibo) sa quarantine facilities. Kaya lang maraming matitigas ulo na ayaw sumama talaga," said Makati Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Rolando Unson in Tina Panganiban-Perez's Monday "24 Oras" report.

However, as things stood, city quarantine facilities were nearly filled and some cases had been taken to national government establishments.

Additionally, both the Ospital ng Makati and the Makati Medical Center had 93 percent of their COVID-19 hospital beds occupied.

With 11.49 COVID-19 positive cases per 100,000 population, Makati was dealing with 632 active cases as of Monday.

Unson, however, would not characterize the situation as alarming.

"Magugulat tayo tumataas talaga. Pero sasabihin natin alarming is hindi naman," he explained. "Kasi... most of the cases naman natin ay hindi critical, at madami sa kanila asymptomatic."

The city was also taking action by mobilizing barangays to enforce health protocols.

"Magpapalabas po rin kami ng mga tao para manita sa mga nasa kalsada," Unson added. — DVM, GMA News