Only 6 of 137 COVID positive residents pulled out of Luz

CEBU, Philippines —  Only six of the 137 coronavirus patients in sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz, Cebu City have been pulled out of the barangay as of yesterday. The rest are still isolated in their houses, the barangay’s spokesperson, Eldebrian Arañez, told The Freeman.

The first patient was taken out of the house and was sent to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center last April 7 and the next five patients were taken to the Cebu City Medical Center on April 14.

Arañez told The Freeman that the rapid increase in the number of positive cases in sitio Zapatera last week contributed to the delay in the transfer of patients, considering that only six rooms are available at the elementary school in the barangay that is converted into an isolation center.

He said the Local School Board and the City’s Disaster and Risk Reduction Office team will not recommend the transfer of the patients while the other rooms in the school are not fully ready.

This is to ensure that both the patients and those attending to them will be convenient.

Still, residents are hoping for the immediate transfer of the positive COVID-19 patients.

As a precautionary measure, residents in Luz have covered their windows with plastic but Arañez told The Freeman this is caused major discomfort to those inside the house, considering the hot weather these days.

“On behalf of the residents of Sitio Zapatera, Brgy. Luz, kami nanghinaut nga unta mapadali na gyud ang pagbalhin sa mga kompirmadong positive sa COVID sa among sitio. Hangtud karon, kapin sa gatos nga confirmed positive ang naa ra gihapon sa tagsa tagsa nila ka panimalay ug mao ni gikahadlokan sa ubang lumulopyo sa among dapit kay basin unya daghan pa hinuon ang matakdan sa maong sakit. Usa pasab, kung na isolate gyud sila, mas mataagan sila ug saktong medical nga pagtagad sa mga medical personnel nga ma-assign unya sa ilang quarantine facility,” said Zapatera resident Aljaylo Desamparado.

(On behalf of the residents of Sitio Zapatera, Barangay Luz, we’re hoping that the city can hasten the transfer of the positive patients in our sitio. Until now, there are still over a hundred patients who are in their houses and many fear that the disease will spread further. Besides, they are better off at isolation centers because they will be attended to by medical personnel)

This sentiment is shared by one of the last five patients transferred to CCMC who told The Freeman that they are well taken care of in the hospital.

Provisions

Food supplies are now being delivered “house-to-house” in Zapatera and Arañez said private groups have also committed to donate provisions. The city is also providing the sitio food and water.

Arañez said that even as the whole barangay is on lockdown, residents of other sitios have organized a campaign to help their neighbors in Zapatera.

Cebu City Police Director Josefino Ligan also said that barangay officials have decided to assign a day for residents from one sitio to go out and buy their essential needs.

"Kay sulod sa Barrio Luz, naa namay palengke dira, naa namay wet market… ang market administrator mao nay mubagsak ug pagkaon dira sulod sa wet market para ang mga tawo di na gyud manggawas tanan," Ligan said. (There is a wet market inside Barangay Luz and the market administrator will make sure that the market is stocked so that the residents won’t have to leave the barangay)

Ligan added that city engineers have put up barriers at the borders of the whole sitio Zapatera to avoid the people from escaping.

Trash

Meanwhile, Arañez said that they have already coordinated with the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS) on the garbage that remain uncollected in sitio Zapatera.

“Amo na ning gi-coordinate sa DPS para sa pag-facilitate aning ilang basura sa sitio Zapatera. Pag Friday pa man unta ni kuhaon pero pag-ingon nga infected na ang area, wala sa gipakuha ang mga basura kay ang PASSI (Pollution Abatement Systems Specialists, Inc.) nga ang mu-collect ani,” Arañez said. (We have coordinated with the DPS to facilitate the collection of garbage in sitio Zapatera. The garbage was supposed to be collected last Friday but after it was found that the area is infected, authorities decided it should be PASSI that should collect)

Collection of garbage in the other 14 sitios in the barangay remain on schedule.  JMO (FREEMAN)