COVID-19 cases rising again in 3 Pampanga cities

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga–The two-component cities in this province and the highly urbanized Angeles City on Wednesday registered 93 new COVID-19 cases as more villagers became infected with the viral disease.

This city recorded 11 new cases from eight of its 27 villages – three in Tabun, two in Duquit, and one each in Bundagul, Dapdap Dau, Mabiga, San Francisco, and Sapang Biabas. It registered zero new recoveries and deaths as its active cases stood at 21.

Data shows that the city government in this city has registered 7,261 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started in 2020. Of these, 7,011 had recovered, while 229 had died.

The capital City of San Fernando on Wednesday registered 48 new cases, no recoveries, and no deaths.

Its new cases were recorded in Dolores village (7), Calulut (6), Bulaon (5), San Nicolas (5), Del Carmen (3), San Pedro (3), Santa Teresita (3), Maimpis (2), Malpitic (2), San Juan (2), Sindalan (2), Santa Lucia (2), Baliti (1), Del Pilar (1), Dela Paz Norte (1), Panipuan (1), Quebiawan (1), and San Agustin (1).

As of Wednesday, 24 of the capital city’s 35 villages are infected with COVID-19 as its active cases stood at 105.

Since the pandemic started in 2020, San Fernando has registered 11,389 cases, of which 10,956 have recovered, while 328 had died.

Angeles City on Wednesday recorded 34 new cases, no recoveries, and no deaths, bringing its active cases to 56.

The new cases include seven in Margot village; four each from Cutcut, Anunas and Cuayan; three each from Sapangbato, Pampang, and Ninoy Aquino; two from Sapalibutad; and one each from Malabanias, Claro M Recto, Sto. Cristo, and Pulung Cacutud.

COVID-19 also infected 15 of Angeles City’s 33 villages. The city has recorded 12,607 cases since the pandemic started. Of these, 12,033 have recovered, and 518 had died.

The three cities were declared free of COVID-19 before Christmas. Several residents who commented on the cities’ social media pages blamed the Christmas parties and lax enforcement of minimum health protocols for the spike in the cases.

Some say the actual number of cases would significantly go up if local governments conduct aggressive tracing and mass swab testing of suspected COVID-19 cases. Many individuals with symptoms do not report to village health units, thinking what they have is just the seasonal flu.

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