This Week in Metro Manila (April 11 to 17, 2020)

The enhanced community quarantine has been extended to April 30!

By: Denisse Shawntel Tan | April 11, 2020

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A week before the supposed end of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to extend it until April 30. Along with the extension, the government has come up with other measures to make the ECQ manageable for the public. For one, the Mandaluyong City Government now offers free transportation for their residents who need to go to health facilities. Meanwhile, the Manila local government also rolled out Kandiwa stores to bring fresh food supplies to residents. Prices for goods will also remain as is in Parañaque as they implement a stricter price freeze in the area. Supermarkets in Luzon have also established schedules for their operating hours.

For health news, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) halted their HIV testing to give way for COVID-19 cases. A 24-hour hotline for COVID-19 concerns has also been established by the Department of Health (DOH). Lastly, the Philippine Red Cross chose Quezon City for its first COVID-19 mobile testing site. Read on for more home quarantine news in Metro Manila and more.

Quarantine News

Enhanced community quarantine extended until April 30

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to April 30. The ECQ was supposed to end on April 14. The decision to extend was made as mass testing for COVID-19 has just begun. The extension was also deemed necessary for the government to determine whether the ECQ is effective and to increase the health capacity in Luzon and other affected areas. Visayas and Mindanao will be monitored but they are not obliged to undergo ECQ. [1]

Transportation News

Mandaluyong residents can avail free transportation to health facilities

The following residents of Mandaluyong City can now avail free rides when going to medical facilities: senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and children with medical needs. Patients who need dialysis, chemotherapy, laboratory, and regular checkups can avail the service as well [2]. The service is not for emergency cases, and residents have to call 8533-2225 and give basic contact details, the complete address of the medical facility, and the consultation schedule if needed. If the patient’s appointment gets cancelled, it is recommended that they call the hotline so the slot may be given away [3].

Philippine Airlines cancels international flights until April 30, 2020

Due to the extension of the ECQ in Luzon, Philippine Airlines cancelled local and international flights until April 30, 2020. Affected passengers have the option to refund, rebook, reroute or convert their booked flights into a travel voucher.

Shopping News

Kadiwa rolling stores rolled out in Manila

Residents of various barangays in Manila can now buy fresh goods through the Kadiwa Rolling Stores. The farm-to-market rolling stores are located at Lambingan Ferry Station in front of Thomas Earnshaw Elementary School near Barangays 896 and 897, and along J. Posadas Street near Road 2, Punta, Sta. Ana, near Barangays 903 and 905. The stores will be open at 7:00 AM. More shopping stores will be opened once locations have been planned, according to the Manila Public Office [3].

Price freeze strictly enforced in Parañaque City

Prices for goods and commodities will be strictly monitored in Parañaque City as the Parañaque City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) will be enforcing a tighter price freeze during the ECQ. Under the stricter price freeze, a team will be dispatched to monitor prices in supermarkets, markets, talipapa, and other business establishments. The BPLO will penalize establishments that will not abide by the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) suggested retail prices for goods during calamities, disasters, and national or local emergencies [4].

Banks and Remittance Center News: Palawan Express will resume operations on April 13

Palawan Express will resume their operations on April 13 after being closed from April 9 to 12 in observance of Holy Week. [6]

Health News

RITM will temporarily halt HIV testing to focus on COVID-19 cases

HIV drug resistance testing and viral load testing services at the RITM will be temporarily suspended until further notice. According to RITM’s Facebook post, they will also suspend laboratory and hospital services temporarily to shift manpower and resources to fighting COVID-19 [7].

DOH opens 24 hour hotline ‘Telemedicine’ for COVID-19 concerns

The Department of Health (DOH) has opened “Telemedicine”, a 24-hour hotline that will provide medical consultations to the public for free. The DOH said that residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) can call the 24/7 hotline at 02-8424-1724. Licensed doctors will be handling the over-the-phone consultations [8].

Quezon City chosen as first COVID-19 mobile testing site

Quezon City has been chosen by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to be the first site for COVID-19 mobile testing. The decision is based on the fact that Quezon City has a dense population and also due to its high number of confirmed cases. Multiple testing sites will be assigned in the city, and these will be identified by the PRC and QC Health Department (QCHD). To be prioritized for testing are persons under investigation (PUIs) [9].

Ninoy Aquino Stadium made into a quarantine center

The Ninoy Aquino Stadium in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex has been converted into a temporary quarantine center starting April 8 to decongest hospitals. The quarantine center includes 112 beds and is designated for COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms. The facility is manned by the Medical Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As of writing, five hospitals in Manila have already declared that they are at full-capacity.

Ospital ng Sampaloc closes temporarily due to COVID-positive workers

Five hospital staff members in Ospital ng Sampaloc have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. Due to the number of affected staff, the hospital will be temporarily closed to the public until further notice.


Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Metro Manila.



Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/2wrnSHc
[2] https://bit.ly/2RhVqPi
[3] https://bit.ly/39NVmx7
[4] https://bit.ly/34ocSXt
[5] https://bit.ly/34q9cob
[6] https://bit.ly/2JTnHY1
[7] https://bit.ly/2VeU0WI
[8] https://bit.ly/2x4a99E
[9] https://bit.ly/39SkT8r

About Denisse Shawntel Tan

Denisse Tan is currently a work in progress: she’s an aspiring writer, artist, and fashion designer! She’s trying to figure out how to manage her time in achieving all of her goals while also taking in life as humanly possible. Aside from art, she’s a big fan of the color pink, disco music, Bratz dolls, and Genshin Impact. By age 35, she plans to travel to New York City 🗽.

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