The Moises Padilla municipal government has placed Barangay Montilla under granular lockdown to minimize the spread of coronavirus in the community.
The lockdown that began Monday, April 26, will end on May 10.
Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo, in an executive order issued on Monday, said a wake was held for a retired army officer on April 11 to 15, which was attended by residents and non-residents of the barangay and the municipality, however, several of the attendees were found to have tested positive for COVID-19.
She said the contact tracing team was “unable to effectively detect and isolate possible confirmed COVID-19 cases due to the non-cooperation of the primary contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case during the wake of the retired army officer.”
On April 25, the municipal health officer wrote the barangay captain a letter, calling her attention to cooperate with the contact tracing team.
The following day, April 26, the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 convened and recommended the granular lockdown of Barangay Montilla to curtail the spread of the virus in the municipality.
The EO said that movements of the Barangay Montilla residents will be within their area only and that they are required to wear masks when going outside of their homes and must observe social distancing.
Non-residents of the barangay are prohibited from entering the area.
Gambling and parlor games that require the gathering of two or more persons are strictly prohibited, while religious practices will be allowed as long as the spiritual leader is a resident of the barangay.
Those organizing baptisms, marriages or funerals must secure the approval of the mayor and the municipal health officer.
Those who do not comply with the order will be subjected to criminal and administrative actions in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the mayor said.
On Monday, the town had 48 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the local transmissions, with nine positive patients from Barangay Montilla.*