The number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Pateros, the smallest local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila with an estimated population of 70,000, has increased by 90 percent.
Based on the latest tally by the Pateros municipal government, a total of 112 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Jan. 11, an increase of 53 new cases, or 90 percent, from 59 on Jan. 10.
This brought Pateros’ total active cases to 393, up by 110 cases, or 39 percent, from 283 recorded a day before.
With 393, Pateros has an active case rate of 561 per 100,000 population based on the estimated population.
According to the municipal government, of the 393 active cases, 164, or 42 percent, are asymptomatic and 229, or 58 percent, are mild cases. Of the total, 387 are in isolation and six are scheduled for isolation.
Pateros, like other LGUs in Metro Manila, has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases this January. COVID-19 returned to Pateros after the town posted zero COVID-19 cases for three weeks in December.
In an address to the Pateros Municipal Council on Jan. 11, Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III warned that the town’s COVID-19 cases could breach the 1,000-mark.
He said Pateros’ active cases were only 259 as of Jan. 8 because the results of the tests for Jan. 5, 6, 7 and 10 have not been released yet by the Philippine Red Cross.
“But I fear that the total number of positive cases right now in our municipality might reach the thousand mark. This is our situation. This is very scary. Let us hope that this will not happen,” said Ponce.
As of Jan. 11, Pateros has a total of 8,389 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 7,889 recoveries, and 107 deaths.