Police have been ordered to keep a tight watch on parties and other mass gatherings that may trigger the spread of COVID-19 in their areas of responsibility.
“I am reminding all our police commanders to be on alert and strictly monitor your areas of responsibility to prevent mass gatherings and ensure the observance of minimum public health safety standards,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Tuesday.
“No superspreader events should go unnoticed in your areas of responsibility,” he said.
This developed as the Philippines logged 3,972 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of coronavirus infections to 1,188,672.
Thirty-six new fatalities pushed the COVID-19 death toll to 20,019, marking a grim new milestone for the country under the 2-year-long pandemic.
In Bulacan, Norzagaray town officials ordered the leaders of Barangay Matictic to explain why they did not control the surge of over 2,000 tourists that picnicked and swam in the Bakas River on Sunday, as most did not observe minimum health protocols.
The barangay captain and councilors could face administrative and criminal liabilities for allowing the event to go uncontrolled and for not answering the municipality’s show-cause order, Norzagaray legal officer Jhorola Andres told ABS-CBN.
The municipal government is waiting for the health office’s recommendation on possible swab tests for the persons who went swimming in Bakas River, Andres added.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte likewise issued a show-cause order to Feliciano dela Cruz, the captain of Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, after reports reaching her office indicated that a three-day fiesta was held in the village from May 9 to 11.
Belmonte also wants the president of a homeowners’ association in Nagkaisang Nayon to be held liable for failure to monitor and stop the two “superspreader” parties – the first a drinking and videoke session among residents on Mother’s Day (May 9) and on the feast of their patron saint, San Isidro de Labrador (May 11).
Meanwhile, local officials said 16 more guests of the Gubat sa Ciudad resort in Caloocan City tested positive for COVID-19.
A total of 20 guests have so far tested positive for the respiratory disease, the Caloocan COVID-19 Command Center said.
Eleazar also advised police commanders to closely coordinate with local government units, particularly village officials, regarding the measure.
The call came in the wake of a pool party and drinking session in Novaliches, Quezon City, earlier this month where more than 50 people contracted COVID-19.
Eleazar said the public should not be complacent despite a decrease in COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila.
“Those found to have violated our guidelines and ordinances, especially those who joined the gatherings, got closer to one another, and held drinking and karaoke sessions shall be issued ordinance violation receipt and could be charged with violation of Republic Act 11332,” Belmonte said.
RA 11332 is the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
She directed the city’s legal officer to pursue a case and issue a show-cause order on village chief dela Cruz why he should not be held liable for the untoward incidents.
At least 610 residents have gone through a swab test, as the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said another resident has yet to be swabbed.
Attendees even posted themselves live on Facebook while enjoying the separate celebrations without observing social distancing and wearing a face mask.
Belmonte ordered a lockdown in the neighborhood on May 14.
According to CESU, another resident tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total to 55. It is still awaiting the results of 18 other attendees.
Caloocan’s Gubat sa Ciudad was permanently shut down on May 10 after authorities discovered on May 9 that the resort was operating despite prevailing quarantine restrictions at the time.
Cases have been filed against officers of the resort as well as the chairperson of Barangay 171, which has jurisdiction over Gubat sa Ciudad.
Meanwhile, the DOH reported 4,659 newly recovered COVID-19 patients, bringing the total recoveries to 1,120,452.
This left 48,201 active cases, of which 92.7 percent were mild, 2.1 percent of which were asymptomatic, 1.6 percent of which were critical, 2.1 percent of which were severe, and 1.42 percent of which were moderate.
The DOH also reported that, nationwide, 59 percent of the ICU beds, 46 percent of the isolation beds, 47 percent of the ward beds, and 41 percent of the ventilators were in use.
In Metro Manila, 58 percent of the ICU beds, 41 percent of the isolation beds, 40 percent of the ward beds, and 41 percent of the ventilators were in use.