Police guarded the entry point of Sitio 2 in Barangay San Jose in Mandaluyong City, which is under granular lockdown.
The area was put on lockdown on August 20, but they will tighten protocols from this Wednesday to September 2.
According to Barangay Kagawan Joan Batan, even authorized persons outside of residence or APOR can no longer leave from 8 a.m. Even some jobs must be home quarantined first.
Mayor Menchie Abalos said a clustering of COVID-19 cases in the area, so only emergency cases will be allowed to come out.
Families are positive in the area, so hard lockdown needs to be implemented.
The mayor added that those who tested positive for the virus are mildly symptomatic but have conducted mass testing since the implementation of the granular lockdown.
Within three days, the number of active cases in the said barangay almost doubled. However, according to the Mandaluyong City Health Office, there are still 32 active cases being monitored in the barangay.
Before 8 a.m. Wednesday, a resident fled because he had to go to work. Carrying some belongings, they will first stay outside the barangay so as not to be locked down, and their livelihoods will be affected.
Baclaran Day still celebrated amid MECQ
Public religious gatherings are still banned in Metro Manila during the modified enhanced community quarantine. But some still went to Baclaran Church in Parañaque this last Wednesday of August.
People are not allowed to enter during mass inside, which is streamed online. Just outside the gate stood some devotees to pray. Many bikers also stopped to pray for a moment. There are barangay residents and police who remind about health protocols.
When there is no mass, you can enter to pray inside the Baclaran Church. But capacity is also limited, and devotees can only be inside the church for a few minutes.
The health protocol is also implemented within the church. This is also to avoid crowds, especially since Wednesday is Baclaran Day, which devotees often visit.
There are fewer masses today than before. Even on Baclaran Day, if before the mass was almost hourly, there are only 4 masses at Baclaran Church.
Schedules are 5:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 3 p.m. at 5 p.m. Everything can be watched online.
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