4 more areas in Manila eyed for lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is eyeing to place four more districts under lockdown amid reports of violations of the enhanced community quarantine.

Moreno’s chief of staff Cesar Chavez said yesterday the mayor instructed his advisers to study the possibility of enforcing lockdowns in Tondo, San Andres, Sta. Cruz and Malate.

If the plan pushes through, Chavez said the lockdown would likely be enforced this week to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Manila Police District arrested 157 quarantine violators during the 48-hour lockdown in Sampaloc, which ended on Saturday night.

Sampaloc was placed under total lockdown after over 100 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the area.

Chavez said more than 800 Sampaloc residents underwent rapid and swab testing for COVID-19.