SITIO Zapatera in Barangay Luz, Cebu City has been on lockdown since Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
But additional police personnel were brought in to secure entry and exit points on Saturday, April 11, after it was announced that the two new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients in the region were residents of the barangay, bringing the total number of positive cases in Luz to three.
Sitio Zapatera is home to around 9,000 people who live in houses that are close to each other, alarming city officials that the novel coronavirus may spread and infect the whole barangay.
Barangay Councilor Maynard Salinguhay said the congestion is an additional challenge in trying to contain the disease.
“This is our largest sitio with around 800 families. This is a very congested area like when you open your door, in front of you is another door of your neighbor,” he said.
He also explained that the sitio has been on lockdown since April 7 when a resident was confirmed to be a Covid-19 case.
With the two additional Covid-19 patients, Cebu City now has 25 cases, the highest in Central Visayas.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, committee on disaster risk reduction and management chairman, said the police have been closely monitoring the sitio, especially the houses of the Covid-19 patients.
The first patient is currently confined in a hospital in the city.
Daisy Villa, head of the City Health Department (CHD), said that after the first positive patient was confirmed, her office took swab samples from those who were in close contact with the patient, who were the patient’s live-in partner and his drinking buddy.
As of Sunday, April 12, the CHD had taken swab samples from 15 individuals who had possible contact with the Covid-19 patients.
Salinguhay said the first positive patient lives with a child and a live-in partner, who happens to be the second Covid-19 patient.
The third Covid-19 patient, the first patient’s bestfriend, lives in a house with 12 others.
Salinguhay said all those who live with the three positive patients already tested negative for Covid-19.
Villa, for her part, said her office can only conduct selective testing and not mass testing.
Tumulak said the two new Covid-19 patients are quarantined at home. Even though they have been placed in isolation inside their houses, neighbors are still afraid of getting infected.
He said the two positive patients will be transferred to the Bayanihan Cebu Center at the old campus of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu on Gen. Maxilom Ave. once the facility is operational.
Tumulak said he has coordinated with the Department of Education to use the elementary school in the barangay as a temporary shelter for the Covid-19 patients, but based on Department of Health protocols, there is no need to put them there since they are both asymptomatic.
Salinguhay said the barangay has been providing for the needs of Sitio Zapatera residents since it has been on lockdown.
He said residents contact the barangay if they need food and other supplies and barangay workers will buy these for them.
Tumulak said the City already distributed food packs to the residents.
Meanwhile, Salinguhay urged all the residents, not just in their barangay, to stay at home and maintain social distancing.
“Sa panahon karon, naay uban nga asymptomatic (Nowadays, there are some who are asymptomatic). The best thing you can do is to stay at home and maintain social distancing. Di ta maghuwat nga naa pa’y laing magpositive para mosunod ta sa protocol (Don’t wait for someone else to test positive before you start following protocol),” said Salinguhay. (JJL)