Covid-19 cases in San Fernando drop; 16 villages now Covid-free

COVID-19 cases in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga have drastically declined in the last two weeks.

“Bumaba na yung Covid-19 active cases natin sa pangkalahatan. Dati double digits tayo sa new cases pero ngayon nag a-average na lang tayo ng five to six new cases a day for the past two weeks. Sixteen barangays na rin yung walang active cases,” said Dr. Carlos Mercado, City Health Officer-in-charge.

(Our Covid-19 active cases have dropped. We used to double digits in new cases but now we are only averaging five to six new cases a day for the past two weeks. Sixteen barangays also have no active cases.)

These 16 barangays are Barangays Baliti, Del Pilar, Del Rosario, Dela Paz Norte, Lourdes, Magliman, Maimpis, Pandaras, Panipuan, Pulung Bulu, Quebiawan, San Felipe, San Isidro, San Juan, Sta. Teresita and Sto. Rosario.

Mercado believes that the local government unit’s efficient vaccination rollout contributed to the decline in Covid-19 cases.

“Malaking tulong talaga yung vaccination program natin para bumaba yung kaso sa San Fernando. People get immunity from the vaccines and vaccines really work. Kaya sana yung mga hindi pa nagpabakuna, magpabakuna na para makapag contribute sila doon sa herd immunity na inaasam natin,” the officer explained.

(Our vaccination program really helped a lot to reduce the number of cases in San Fernando. People get immunity from vaccines and vaccines really work. So I hope those who have not been vaccinated, get vaccinated so that they can contribute to the herd immunity that we hope for.)

As of November 12, 2021, CHO had fully vaccinated 142,299 individuals or 61.7 percent of the total eligible population, while 78.97 percent or 191,182 Fernandinos already received at least the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Year-end target

CHO targets to reach the 100-percent vaccination of the first dose before the year ends.

“Nagpapasalamat din kami sa mga barangay natin na tumutulong sa atin. Napakahalaga ng role nila lalo na ngayon na maluwag na talaga yung restrictions. And we hope na yung ibang barangay din ay ma-achieve rin yung zero active case,” Mercado said.

(We are also grateful to our barangays who help us. Their role is very important especially now that the restrictions are really loose. And we hope that other barangays will also be able to achieve zero active cases.)

While the Covid-19 cases in the city dropped, Mercado still urged the public to follow the minimum public health standards to prevent infection, especially among unvaccinated children.

“Sa ngayon patuloy pa rin tayong nakamonitor kasi nga nag-ease ng restrictions ang national so baka by next week or first week of December, maramdaman natin yung epekto. Kapag dumoble yung ating kaso maaaring yun na yung epekto ng pagluwag ng restrictions. Pero sana hindi na tayo umabot doon at magkaroon pa ulit ng surge,” the officer said.

(So far we are still monitoring because the national has eased restrictions so maybe by next week or first week of December, we will feel the effect. If our case doubles, that may be the effect of the relaxation of restrictions. But I hope we don't get there and have another surge.)

“Panawagan na lang natin sa mga magulang na iwasang ilabas ang mga bata at dalhin sila sa matataong lugar lalo na sa mga enclosed spaces katulad ng mga malls. Sa mga parks naman o open areas, huwag nila hahayaang magtanggal ng mask yung mga anak nila. Isipin din sana nila na hindi pa vaccinated itong mga batang ito at maaari pa ring mahawa ng Covid sa kanilang paglabas-labas,” he added.

(Let's just call on parents to avoid taking children out and take them to crowded places, especially in enclosed spaces, such as malls. In parks or open areas, they should not let their children remove their masks. They should also assume that these children have not been vaccinated and can still be infected with Covid when they go out.)

Since the pandemic last year, the City Government has recorded 11,263 Covid-19 cases. At least 10,884 of these have recovered, while 324 have died.

As of November 17, the city has only 55 new active cases of Covid-19. (City of San Fernando Information Office)