Pateros to impose granular lockdowns as COVID-19 cases reach critical level

Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III announced the imposition of granular lockdown in several areas in Pateros due to the sharp increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the municipality.

“You know, our COVID-19 positive cases are very high. To date, we have 197 positives and based on our population, this is very high. The truth is, we are at a critical level. Pateros has the highest in Metro Manila based on our population and we equate that and we get the proportion, this is very high,” said the mayor Wednesday during a live broadcast on Facebook.

During a press briefing held Tuesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Pateros and Malabon are at critical risk based on the two-week growth rates (TWGR) and average daily attack rate (ADAR) of COVID-19 cases.

“An attack rate is defined as the proportion of those who became ill after a specified exposure,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the DOH, Pateros has 202 total active cases as of Aug. 2 based on the “COVID Kaya” data. It has a moving two-week growth rate of 328 percent, the highest in the National Capital Region (NCR), based on comparative data from July 6 to 19, and July 20 to Aug. 2.

Pateros also has an ADAR of 22.06 from July 20 to Aug. 2, the highest in the NCR. The municipality has no Delta variant case as of Aug. 1.

As of July 28, Pateros recorded 65 active COVID-19 cases including 27 new cases out of 4,821 confirmed cases, 4,689 recoveries, and 67 deaths.

Granular lockdowns are imposed on streets and barangay aimed at containing the clustering of COVID-19 cases.

Under this, Ponce said, no one will be allowed outside their houses except for workers, those buying essential goods like food and medicine, and emergency cases.

In Brgy. Sta. Ana, he said, the areas that will be placed under granular lockdown are Masikap Masagana, Alley A19, De Borja, and Alley 7. Other areas that will be on lockdown are Lungos and T. Sulit in Brgy. Aguho and P. Herrera in Brgy. Martirez Del 96.

Ponce also announced that quarantine passes will be issued to households, which will be used during ECQ.

“This is for all of us. Our COVID-19 cases are increasing. We do not know what is causing this. Perhaps it is the Delta variant,” he said.