Pampanga imposes ‘household lockdown’ due to surge in COVID-19 cases

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –– Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda ordered a “lockdown in households” on Friday and reiterated the guidelines under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) from March 20 to April 5 as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases surged in the province ahead of Holy Week.

“Ilockdown po muna natin ang ating mga bahay (Let’s lock down our houses for the time being),” Pineda said in a public address streamed live on social media on Friday.

He instructed households to stop receiving visitors, to identify only two persons to go out and buy essential goods, and to stop family members below 18 and over 60 years old from leaving homes.

“Let’s protect our families,” he said as he mentioned that COVID-19 cases rose to 120 on Thursday and 75 as of 1 p.m. on Friday.

Pineda reactivated barangay checkpoints and regulated the entry of non-residents by presenting a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or antigen test result done 72 hours before entering the province, including Angeles City.

Business and commercial establishments were required to serve only 50 percent of their capacities. He imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. except for health workers, emergency workers, and those working on night shifts.

The selling and buying of liquor have been re-imposed as well.

Pineda warned parents that they would face charges if their children would not comply with safety protocols.

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