San Juan City may have dodged the feared surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases after the holiday season as the number of active cases in the city dropped to 38 as of January 6.
“The number of active COVID-19 cases in San Juan has significantly dropped to only 38, bringing our total recoveries to 3,524,” Mayor Francis Zamora said Thursday.
“We are elated that we achieved this decline despite the notion and the expectation that the recent holiday season would make the numbers spike,” he added.
The mayor said the city was able to curb the further spread of the disease through “systems, mechanisms and interventions” that the local government has enforced “that have instilled discipline, understanding and commitment” among residents.
As part of San Juan’s preparation for its vaccination program, the city government on January 4 began the registration of residents willing to get free vaccines against COVID-19.
The local government has also earmarked P50 million for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine once it is available and approved for use.
“We will choose the vaccine that has high efficacy, good reputation, and acceptance of the people, and adheres to local and international standards so that residents will not be afraid and the percentage of those who want to be vaccinated will be high,” Zamora said.
The mayor announced that the city is already in talks with the national government and pharmaceutical companies for the procurement of the vaccine.
“We will be prioritizing health workers and frontliners to receive the vaccine first, then indigent senior citizens will soon follow. Residents who voluntarily signed up will receive the vaccine in the next phases,” he said.