Central Luzon, Baguio COVID-19 cases rise anew

MANILA, Philippines — Active COVID-19 cases in Central Luzon provinces and Baguio City have increased again.

Latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that there are now 2,010 active cases in the region.

The increase in infections was more prevalent in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bataan.

In Bulacan, 702 cases were recorded in the past two weeks.

During the same period, Pampanga logged 128 active cases; Nueva Ecija, 113, and Tarlac, 97.

Bulacan was placed under Alert Level 3 starting yesterday until Jan. 15 due to a surge in infections.

In Baguio City, the health services office said 58 new cases were recorded on Tuesday, bringing the active infections to 149.

Starting tomorrow, curfew hours from midnight to 4 a.m. will be imposed in the city.

As this developed, in Pangasinan, Mayor Joseph Arman Bauzon of Calasiao ordered the suspension of work in the municipal hall starting yesterday until tomorrow after a staff of the Rural Health Unit tested positive for COVID-19.

Only employees of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, public order and safety office and market staff are exempted from the work suspension to pave the way for disinfection and contact tracing.

E. Visayas infections remain low

Meanwhile, in Eastern Visayas, the DOH said active cases remain low.

On Tuesday, four laboratories in Tacloban reported that of the 269 tested, 17 were found infected – a positivity rate of only 0.06 percent.

In Leyte, Ormoc logged the most number of new cases at 10 followed by Tacloban, four, and one each in San Isidro and Albuera.

The DOH said there is still no confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the region. – Miriam Desacada, Artemio Dumlao, Eva Visperas