Central Luzon areas log COVID-19 surge

ANGELES CITY, Philippines — Coronavirus infections in some areas in Central Luzon are surging, with Pampanga including the chartered city of Angeles logging the highest number of cases at 5,877 as of yesterday.

A report from the provincial health office of Bataan also showed a significant number of active cases at 3,206.

Tarlac recorded 1,013 while Aurora and Olongapo City posted 140 and 566 active cases, respectively.

The provincial government of Pampanga said 684 new cases were recorded yesterday including 314 in Angeles.

The figures brought the number of active cases to 4,285 and 1,592 in Pampanga and Angeles, respectively.

Angeles recorded the highest number of new infections with 314, followed by San Fernando City with 105 and Mabalacat, 83.

The provincial health office in Tarlac reported 116 new infections, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 1,013.

Tarlac City logged the highest number of new cases with 515.

In Bataan, health officials reported 3,206 active cases coming from Balanga City with 1,012; Mariveles, 567; Dinalupihan, 550; Limay, 258; Orani, 187; Samal, 153; Orion, 109; Abucay, 101; Hermosa, 96; Morong, 69; Pilar, 55, and Bagac, 49.

The new infections in Aurora were recorded in Maria Aurora with 42; Baler, 41; Dingalan, 25; Dipaculao and Casiguran with 12 each; San Luis, 11, and Dinalungan, six.

Zambales eases travel restrictions

The provincial government of Zambales has eased travel restrictions for vaccinated people.

Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Friday signed an order lifting the RT-PCR test result requirement for both residents and non-residents when entering the province.

Travelers need only to present their vaccination cards.

People manifesting symptoms, although they are fully vaccinated, are required to undergo antigen testing at the border.

Unvaccinated government officials, businessmen or returning residents should be inoculated with Janssen vaccine at the border.

A traveler who declines to get vaccinated will not be allowed entry, the order said.

Medical personnel deployed in two borders located in Subic and Sta. Cruz town will administer the vaccines.

Earlier, the provincial government required fully vaccinated travelers to present a negative rapid antigen test result taken 24 hours before entry to the province.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers were required to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken 48 hours before entering Zambales.

Meanwhile, only one of 44 towns in Pangasinan logged zero COVID cases as of Saturday.

No infection was recorded in the municipality of Laoac while the rest logged single-digit cases.

Dagupan, the only independent component city in Pangasinan, recorded 326 active cases.

Other areas in the COVID watchlist are Lingayen with 194 cases; Calasiao, 154; Urdaneta, 128; Malasiqui, 106; Mangaldan, 84; Binmaley and Bugallon, 83 each; Sta. Barbara, 71; Rosales and Sison, 67 each;  Manaoag, 64, and Mangatarem, 61.

From 279 new confirmed infections on Friday, Pangasinan logged 488 cases the following day. – Bebot Sison Jr., Eva Visperas