KALIBO, Aklan – Parts of several populous puroks (zones) in Barangay Poblacion here are on surgical lockdown due to a sudden resurgence in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
Thirteen new cases were recorded in portions of Purok 2, Purok 3 and Purok 4, according to Mayor Emerson Lachica.
The surgical lockdown for 14 days took effect on Jan. 16.
Lachica issued Executive Order No. 4 for such on Jan. 15.
Affected residents were advised to stay at home and refrain from non-essential travel.
Lachica also ordered the Municipal Health Office, Barangay Health Emergency Response Team, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the COVID-19 Task Force to conduct contact tracing.
Only authorized persons are allowed to enter the locked down areas (medical and sanitation personnel, media, personnel distributing food and medicines).
Poblacion barangay captain Neil Candelario clarified that only certain households or portions of these puroks were on lockdown, not the entire puroks in the C. Laserna area.
Candelario said eight houses were placed under surgical lockdown in the adjoining Purok 2, 3 and 4.
The municipal government and Poblacion barangay council will provide food for the affected residents.
Police and barangay tanods will be deployed also to help enforce stricter lockdown measures and to monitor the movement of individuals within the affected areas.
Last year, a granular lockdown was implemented from Purok 1 to Purok 6 from September 20 to 27.
Meanwhile, a liquor ban and a 10-hour curfew between 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. were also ordered for two weeks in the whole of C. Laserna area identified as a containment zone.
As of Jan. 16, Kalibo had 288 confirmed cases, 242 recovered, and 12 deaths, according to the Provincial Health Office – Aklan Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit./PN
