THE Quezon City government said on Wednesday that it has recorded another mpox (monkeypox) case, involving a person who contracted the disease at a sauna and gym club in the city.
Thus, Mayor Joy Belmonte approved a recommendation from the city health and business permit departments to permanently close the Fahrenheit or F Club located along E. Rodriguez Avenue.
Officials of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (CESD) said that the patient, a 31-year-old male resident, tested positive for mpox after exhibiting symptoms on Oct. 18.
CESD chief Rolando Cruz said that during a patient interview and case investigation report, the male city resident visited the F Club on Oct. 5.
Initial information indicates that it was the sixth time that patients pointed to the F Club as a possible place of exposure for the confirmed mpox cases.
The Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) issued on Aug. 24, 2024, a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to F Club 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.
A compliance order on Sept. 27 was released to reiterate the establishment’s need to comply with local and national laws.
Despite the standing CDO, the BPLD received a new business application under the business name “F.I.N.E Wellness bar and F.I.N.E spa,” but sharing the same address and facilities with F Club.
Currently, the business application is on hold after the inspectors’ findings, the city government said.
Prior to the confirmation of the latest mpox case, it turned out that the club resumed operation using the new business application.
“In the interest of public health, we are serving the closure order to F Club and this FINE Wellness bar and Spa,” Belmonte said.
“Even if you changed your business name, we would still not allow you to operate unless you comply with the existing laws as well as city’s rules and regulations,” Belmonte added.
She said that her topmost concern is the safety and well-being of “QCitizens.”
In a bid to further curb the spread of mpox virus, the city government will hold a forum with spas, wellness, and entertainment establishments this week, city officials said.
The CESD will discuss the city’s mpox protocols, while the BPLD will discuss the permits and documents that businesses should comply with.
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