By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The municipal government of Toboso in Negros Occidental ordered the lockdown of at least 32 households in Barangay San Jose due to coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19.

In a phone call interview yesterday morning, Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco said they imposed the lockdown starting 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 17, and it will last until May 24.

Jaojoco said they made the decision to impose a granular lockdown due to localized transmissions of COVID-19 at Crossing Central Danao in Barangay San Jose. Contact tracing is now being conducted and disinfection of the area will also be carried out.

“Tam-an gid ka delikado,” the mayor said. “Nag-decide na lang kami nga i-lockdown ang area.”

Jaojoco said as of Monday, six residents of the said barangay have tested positive for the virus. One of them is a frontliner, whom he noted that despite being sick, still reported for work at the barangay health station, as well as the town’s health station.

The mayor added that almost all of their frontline personnel assigned at the town’s health station have been isolated, along with the personnel of the Rural Health Unit.

As of yesterday morning, Jaojoco said they have a total of 19 active COVID-19 cases.

For the meantime, Jaojoco added they have provided 10 kilos of rice, canned goods and mineral water to each of the affected households./DGB, WDJ