Mayor Labella Lifts Sitio Zapatera Lockdown

Due to the increasing number of patients who have recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Mayor Edgar Labella on Wednesday ordered the lifting on the lockdown order in Sitio (sub-village) Zapatera, Barangay Luz.

Beginning at 12 noon on Wednesday, he said the sub-village would no longer be under strict quarantine protocols that barred the residents from moving in and out of the area.

In his memorandum addressed to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Cebu City Health Department (CCHD) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Labella said with the sufficient time that elapsed and more recoveries logged in the area, he directed the authorities to “implement the necessary measures to effectively lift the lockdown on the sitio”.

Labella said he decided to lift the lockdown after 51 asymptomatic Covid-19 patients recovered.

“Kini nagpamatuod na kung kita magtinabangay ug padayong modasig sa mga lagda sa gobyerno ug sa mga tambag sa atong medical experts, mapakgang nato ang Covid-19 (This proves that if we will help each other and continue to adhere to the government regulations and advises of medical experts, we can topple Covid-19), he said in a statement posted on Cebu City Public Information Office social media page.

Before Labella placed Zapatera into lockdown in April, the village officials of Luz also imposed a barangay-level lockdown on the sitio.

It took a month and 13 days before Labella decided to lift the lockdown.

Meanwhile, the CCHD also released another 18 new Covid-19 recoveries as of Wednesday, that brings the total negative laboratory results to 108.

On Tuesday, the city government announced that 24 patients recovered from the coronavirus. Only one of these recoveries is from Barangay Pardo and the rest were from Barangay Luz.

The mayor encouraged the city residents to continue observing the protocols to contain the dreaded viral disease.

He said his appeal to the residents to stay at home, practice good hygiene, maintain safe physical distancing and wearing of face mask remains.

Although Barangay Zapatera was initially considered as high-risk area for Covid-19, the epicenter shifted to Barangay Mambaling. Zapatera has 201 cases as compared to Mambaling’s 615 cases.

As of Wednesday, Cebu City has a total of 1,782 Covid-19 cases, with 16 deaths. (PNA)