CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Locked down only last Thursday due to five Covid-19 cases, Barangay Capalangan in Apalit town was found to have 15 new cases, Mayor Oscar Tetangco announced Sunday afternoon.
On Facebook livestream with Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, the mayor said the 15 new cases are part of the 48 close contacts who were tested for the virus after they were exposed to the earlier five confirmed cases.
The five were in turn infected by their relative, a 69-year-old female who was exposed to a son who worked in Metro Manila and who visited her from June 12 to 14.
The total number of Covid-19 positive cases in Barangay Capalangan alone now stands at 21.
According to Tetangco, there are 56 more people due for testing after their exposure to the 15 recent cases, some of whom are from nearby Barangay Sulipan.
The mayor said that with the “fast local transmission” in the area, he suspected a “more serious strain” of coronavirus.
Governor Pineda declared Barangay Capalangan and Sitio Pulong Kawayan in Barangay Sulipan under “hard lockdown” until July 16.
“You can only go out if you need to buy essential items like food and medicines,” the governor told the residents, and this will require home quarantine passes.
A 24-hour has also been declared, as well as a liquor ban. Tetangco stressed that violators of the liquor ban will be dealt with the full measure of the law blaing the drinking spree the son of the first patient engaged in as the direct cause of the multi-transmission.
Checkpoints have been set at all entries and exits of the barangay. Col. Jean Fernando, who was also at the livestreaming, said additional 20 policemen will be deployed to man the checkpoints.
All public utility vehicles, including tricycles are banned during the lockdown.
For the residents’ needs, the local government will allot additional relief goods, and a “talipapa” will operate in the barangay three times a week.
Pineda also asked leniency to employers of workers from Barangay Capalangan as they are prevented by the lockdown to report to work.
