Cebu barangay under lockdown after logging 82 COVID-19 cases in 1 day

CEBU CITY - A barangay here in the city was placed under "community lockdown" after recording 82 cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Friday.

Mayor Edgardo Labella placed Barangay Luz under lockdown after its Sitio Zapatera's total of COVID-19 patients reached 135. Sitio Zapatera is considered the epicenter of the virus outbreak in the city.

"We have to contain [this],” Labella said.

Under the lockdown, nobody is allowed to go out of the barangay.

Food packs and other essential goods will be distributed to each household.

Those who tested positive will be placed in isolation at a high school in Barangay Luz.

The police and military have joined forces to make sure no one goes out of the barangay.

Labella, meanwhile, said mass testing in his jurisdiction will continue despite earlier statements by the city health department that they will suspend it.

“No, that is not true. In fact, we are expanding it,” said Labella.

Additional areas in the city were included in the places targeted for mass testing.

The Department of Health also said Friday that testing would continue at the sitio.