Pateros COVID-19 cases jump to 19; mayor shuts down car wash for holding Christmas party
The number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Municipality of Pateros has increased to 19 from four amid the threat of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III announced on Dec. 29 that COVID-19 has made its comeback to Pateros, which experienced zero cases for three weeks this month.

Ponce said on Dec. 28, the municipal government has recorded four new COVID-19 cases and their close contacts were tested.
On Dec. 29, he said, 15 new COVID-19 cases were recorded for a total of 19 new cases in Pateros.
“This is a clear indication that we are still in the middle of our fight against the pandemic brought about by the variant that we are on lookout for. This is the Omicron variant,” he said.
Ponce said the Metro Manila Council and the Department of Health had a meeting on Dec. 28, and according to experts, the Omicron variant is nearly five times more transmissible compared to the Delta variant.
The mayor warned the public to still adhere to minimum public health standards including wearing of face masks.
“Everyone should not violate this, especially establishments,” he said.
Ponce revealed that on Dec. 28, the municipal government received a report that a car wash had a Christmas party wherein people were singing, shouting and drinking without masks.
The mayor went to the establishment on Dec. 29 and shut it down.
The staff of the car wash have been quarantined and will be tested for COVID-19.
He has ordered an investigation into the incident and said if the establishment needs to be closed, the municipal government will implement it or the business will be suspended.
Ponce said the incident should serve as a warning to all establishments in Pateros.
All gatherings should seek permission from the municipal government, he said.