Muntinlupa is set to implement stricter home quarantine for residents due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in a bid to slow down and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city.
As of March 19, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 55 Persons Under Monitoring (PUM), 43 Persons Under Investigation (PUI), and four confirmed cases in the city.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi urged barangay officials to strengthen efforts in prohibiting city residents from getting out of their homes amid the enhanced community quarantine.
“We plead to our constituents to stay at home during this health emergency. The local government is restricting movement of people only for accessing basic necessities and essential work,” Fresnedi said.
The public is advised to stay indoors and to cancel non-essential travels as Muntinlupa also imposes curfew hours from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting March 16 until April 14.
Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said PNP Muntinlupa augmented its roving personnel and will start apprehending violators.
Recently, the Muntinlupa City Government ordered the closure of establishments including malls, beauty parlors, spas, barber shops, and similar establishments with potential face-to-face contact of clients.
Those providing essential services were exempted such as banks, pawnshops, money transfer firms, groceries, supermarkets, drug stores, pharmacies, and hardware stores.
Restaurants, carinderias, and other eateries were only allowed to accept take-out orders and refrain from providing dine-in services to ensure implementation of social distancing. Restaurant owners and operators were encouraged to post notices and warnings on the spread and ill effects of COVID-19 on their premises.
Further, public and private recreational facilities were also mandated to halt operations such as fitness gyms, swimming pools, saunas karaoke bars, and country club facilities for sports that entail close person to person contact, even as a liquor ban was enacted to prevent gathering opportunities for city residents in the duration of the quarantine period.
In a bid to address panic-buying, the Muntinlupa City Council also approved the anti-hoarding ordinance that restrict bulk-buying of basic commodities.
For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.