In Quezon City, the local government reported another mpox case, making this the sixth individual to have contracted the disease in the city.
The patient – a 31-year-old male resident of Quezon City – first exhibited mpox symptoms on October 18, though the results were only released to the Quezon City Health Department’s City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (CESD) on October 31.
Interviewed, the patient said he visited Fahrenheit Club (F Club), which is a bathhouse frequented by men who have sex with men, on October 5. This makes this the sixth time that the F Club was identified by mpox patients as their possible place of exposure.
The bathhouse was already in trouble with Quezon City’s local government unit (LGU).
Earlier, on August 4, it was admonished by the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) for refusing to cooperate with the city’s contact tracing team and violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act. At that time, it was issued a cease and desist order (CDO).
As if to circumvent the LGU’s order, a new business application was received by the BPLD for business name “F.I.N.E Wellness bar and F.I.N.E spa”, which has the same address and facilities as F Club. Supposedly, the club resumed operation after the CDO by using the new business application.
According to Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte, the LGU is serving a “closure order” to F Club and F.I.N.E. Wellness bar and Spa. “Even if you changed your business name we will catch you until you comply with the laws… We will not allow further danger to other QCitizens and… ang safety and well-being of our QCitizens remains our primordial duty,” the mayor added.
The LGU is scheduled to hold a forum with spas, wellness, and entertainment establishments this week for the CESD to discuss the city’s mpox protocols, and the BPLD to explain and reiterate the permits and documents that the businesses should comply with.
