CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - A portion of Barangay Panipuan in this capital city was put under lockdown due to three residents testing positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Mayor Edwin Santiago said the results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-test of the three individuals were returned positive on Tuesday, which prompted the city government to implement localized community quarantine measures.

Santiago said one of the said patients was allegedly infected from the Covid-19 case in Pampang Market in Angeles City. The patient is now quarantined at the New Clark City in Tarlac, while the two others are in the city's isolation facility.

He said all 20 individuals who had close contact with the patients have been identified and are subjected to home quarantine.

Despite this, Santiago still ordered the implementation of localized enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on Pongking Street, while the whole of Purok 7 in Barangay Panipuan is under general community quarantine (GCQ) starting Wednesday noon to ensure the containment of the virus.

"Based on National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines, a localized ECQ must be implemented on a street that has minimum two active cases," he said.

Under localized ECQ, Santiago said a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. is implemented for essential workers, while those under GCQ must follow the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

"Prior to the lockdown, our quick response team composed of personnel from different agencies and officials of Barangay Panipuan had conducted measures to ensure the protection of other residents and cut the possible community transmission of the virus," Santiago said.

He also said that mapping and testing of other individuals who possibly interacted with the patients and barangay-wide disinfection are also conducted during the lockdown period.

Santiago urged Fernandinos anew to continue observing all measures implemented by the city government and IATF such as wearing of masks, social distancing and proper hygiene to prevent being infected by the disease.

"I ask everybody to refrain from going outside of their houses as much as possible as Covid-19 is still around and continue to threaten us," he said.