16 villages now COVID-free
COVID-19 cases in the City of San Fernando 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 5 to 6 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.
Sixteen barangays have also been reported to have zero active cases. These 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 LGU’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.
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 vaccines.
CHO targets to reach the 100% 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 remarked.
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.
“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.
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.
