ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. ordered the temporary shutdown of the Pampang Public Market starting June 24 as a vendor who tested positive for the coronavirus disease died Tuesday.
According to Dr. Froilan Canlas, Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) officer-in-charge, the deceased was from Barangay Pampang, aged 21, who had diabetes.
Canlas said he was admitted to the RLMMC on Monday. He showed Covid-19 symptoms and was tested right away. The results only came out Wednesday, confirming that he was positive for Covid-19.
Lazatin called for an emergency meeting to immediately conduct rapid testing on all stall owners and vendors in the public market, as well as to disinfect the premises.
He instructed members of the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO) and health workers from Rural Health Unit 3 and RLMMC to conduct the rapid testing on all stall owners and vendors in the market beginning today, June 24.
Once an individual tests positive in the rapid test, he or she will be isolated immediately and be subjected to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at RLMMC.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) will also conduct disinfection protocol within and outside the premises of the public market.
An intensive contact tracing was also quickly performed to prevent the spread of the disease.
The operation of the public market will resume once the safety protocols are done, says Lazatin.
In the meantime, Lazatin said market-goers can visit San Nicolas Public Market, but vendors and stall owners in Pampang Public Market cannot sell goods in San Nicolas.
Lazatin is also appealing to his constituents for their full cooperation. He is also reminding them to always wear their face masks and avoid going outside of their homes if not for basic necessities and emergency purposes.
At the time of writing, Angeles City has 29 confirmed positive cases for Covid-19, with two active cases from Barangay Margot, 23 recoveries and four deaths. (AC-CIO)