CITY-WIDE DISINFECTION. Angeles City Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. with city health officer Dr. Lenario Santos and Rafael L. Lazatin Memorial Medical Center chief Dr. Froilan Canlas discuss the mandatory disinfection of schools. Contributed Photo
ANGELES CITY – The city government is set to institute a disinfection protocol at the city hall, its offices, other government agencies, and schools on March 12 to 13, 2020 as a precautionary measure against the rising spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. already coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Angeles City, private schools’ officials, and day care centers teachers for the schedule of the disinfection of facilities and buildings of all schools in the city.
In line with this, classes on all levels in public and private schools in the city were suspended from 12:00 PM of March 10,2020 to March 13,2020, following the declaration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of a state of public health emergency in the country.
Mayor Lazatin further instructed Executive Asst. IV Reina Manuel to strictly monitor if the disinfection protocol of the Department of Health (DOH) will be regular and rigorous. This will be carried out by the involved offices of the City Government.
Meanwhile, the DOH made a statement recently that Local Government Units (LGUs) are welcome to suspend classes in light of the threat of the said virus. The DepEd also released a memorandum allowing the suspension of classes if there are confirmed COVID-19 cases or if there is a confirmed community-level transmission of the virus.
To date, the Mayor said there are no recorded cases of COVID-19 and Persons Under Investigation (PUI) in the City as per his meeting with medical personnel from local government hospitals. In a worst-case scenario, the City is ready and equipped to fight the said virus, he said.
“Wala pong corona virus dito sa Angeles. But the safety of our constituents is our topmost priority. We value life. We will conduct close monitoring to assure that the City is guarded against the virus,” he added.
Lazatin also implemented a temporary restriction on the entry of foreign travelers from China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Japan, Iran, and Italy beginning on March 10, 2020.
He earlier ordered the ACPO to set up a 24-hour checkpoint in the city’s entry and exit points.
Furthermore, when Mayor Lazatin attended the Guidelines on COVID-19 Prevention and Control meeting last February 3, 2020, he said that the City will train doctors and nurses to help in the additional quarantine area at the airport.
To ensure the safety of the public from the said disease, free face masks were distributed; hand sanitizing stations were installed in strategic areas within the City Hall building; and the constant and timely dissemination of information via the City Information Office Facebook page to spread awareness and disease prevention tips, among others.
In addition, Mayor Lazatin also ordered business establishments here to not overprice and hoard products amidst the corona virus scare.
The City Government will file legal actions to those who will violate the directive, Lazatin said.
This is in accordance with Memorandum No. 175 Series of 2020, which states “the city government orders drug stores, convenience stores, and similar establishments from profiteering and hoarding of face masks, rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizers, and other similar products.”
Moreover, he is encouraging the public to follow proper hygiene and avoid consumption of raw or under cooked animal products.
Mayor Lazatin is also reminding the public to visit health care professionals if respiratory symptoms appear as well as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
