The city of Malabon does not yet need to be subjected to a stricter lockdown despite the increase in COVID-19 cases, the city’s chief health officer said Tuesday.
According to Dr. Bobby Romero, they want to request that some samples from the city be subjected to genome sequencing to find out if the presence of the UK variant in the locality has increased.
They have previously recorded three UK variant cases in the city.
“’Pag mag-genome sequence kami at mataas po, irerekomenda siguro namin yung lockdown. Pero sa ngayon, doon sa variants namin, 3 pa lang po. So ‘di po muna namin kailangang mag lockdown sa ngayon. Kung ito kakalat nang dikit-dikit po talaga, doon tayo magla-lockdown,” Romero said in an interview with ABS-CBN TeleRadyo.
Most of those currently locked down in Malabon are houses and not the entire barangay, according to Romero.
“Ito pong variant na ito, kaya gusto kong mag-request ng genome sequencing, kasi ang nangyayari sa isang bahay, apat po sila positive lahat, hindi po lumalabas ang mga ito. Nagpapa-deliver lang ng food. Mag-iingat din po tayo sa food deliveries,” said Romero.
No need for stricter lockdown in Malabon despite COVID-19 surge
Malabon is now in a critical risk classification after being included in some areas in Metro Manila that have seen a steady increase in COVID-19 cases.
Meanwhile, he said RT-PCR testing will continue to be conducted in the city.
“Kaya din po kami tumataas, wala kaming tigil sa testing. Lahat ng na-contact trace, tine-test po namin. Wala po kaming pinapakawalan. Bukod po rito, yung mga nalalaman naming may mga sintomas sa mga bahay, pinapa-ikot natin yung mga nasa health center natin at ‘pag nakita namin, tuloy po yung contact tracing natin. Araw-araw, tine-test po ito para makita po natin ang clustering,” he said.
Romero once again reminded Malabon residents to strictly follow the implemented health protocols such as wearing masks and face shields, hand washing, and physical distancing against the spread of COVID-19.