Workers enter and leave the Subic Bay Freeport through one of the bridges connecting it and nearby Olongapo City. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has been experiencing a rising number of COVID-19 infections in the past few days. (Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT––From seven COVID-19 cases on Jan. 3, the number of active infections inside this freeport rose to 51 on Sunday (Jan. 9), the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said.
In a statement, the SBMA said the patients tested positive for COVID-19 from Jan. 3 to 9. They include a 1-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy.
Citing local data, SBMA Chair and Administrator Wilma Eisma said except for a 45-year-old woman, the 44 new patients showed symptoms of the viral disease.
Eisma said 29 of the patients are residents of the freeport, nine are transients or guest workers, and six are SBMA employees.
“In all cases, tracing of contacts and disinfection of relevant areas were initiated,” Eisma said in a statement.
The freeport is under the stricter Alert Level 3 until Jan. 15, allowing business establishments to open only 30 percent of their indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and 50 percent of their outdoor venues.
Intrazonal and interzonal travels are still allowed in the freeport subject to presentation of vaccination certificate showing completed doses and negative RT-PCR tests, taken within 24 hours.