4 Pangasinan towns, 2 cities under COVID-19 watchlist

MANILA, Philippines — Six areas in Pangasinan are under the watchlist of the provincial health office (PHO) after recording an increase in COVID-19 cases.

These are Calasiao with 27 cases; Lingayen, 26; San Carlos City, 19; Malasiqui, 15, and San Jacinto and Urdaneta City, 10 each.

In its COVID monitoring report, the PHO said active infections in Pangasinan increased to 220 after 93 new cases with one death were recorded on Friday.

The province has recorded double-digit cases since Jan. 4.

In Dagupan City, which was placed under Alert Level 3, the Bike and Run Day held every weekend has been suspended.

The city recorded 19 new cases on Thursday.

In Leyte, Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla ordered an intensified vaccination drive, including the giving of booster shots.

“We have ample supply of vaccines. We can also easily ask the Department of Health to send more if there is a need,” he said during a meeting of the provincial inter-agency task force against COVID-19.

Petilla said he is not in favor of border control, but is willing to listen to the recommendations of local chief executives to address the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

”I am not in favor of restricting the movement of our people and implementing strict border protection because of its negative effect to our economy. We need to create more jobs and opportunities in the province,” he said.