24 municipalities COVID-free a year since community quarantine took effect

Exactly a year since community quarantine was imposed over Metro Manila to curb COVID-19 transmission, the Philippines reported 5,404 new infections on Monday, the highest single-day jump this year that brought the national tally to 626,893.

But even though COVID-19 has spread across the country, 24 municipalities remain free of the dreaded disease as of March 14, according to Department of Health data collated by the GMA News Research team.

Of this number, 11 are located in Luzon, one in Visayas, and 12 in Mindanao. Nearly half of the 24 municipalities are located in the Bangsamoro region.

The COVID-free municipalities are spread out across 14 provinces: Sulu, Batanes, Abra, Maguindanao, Aurora, Ilocos Sur, Palawan, Romblon, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, and Eastern Samar.

Batanes (66.7%), Sulu (26.3%), and Aurora (12.5%) have the highest number of municipalities that have remained COVID-free amid the pandemic.

The COVID-free municipalities are as follows:

Luzon

•     Boliney
•     San Isidro
•     Tineg
•     Dilasag
•     Itbayat
•     Ivana
•     Mahatao
•     Uyugan
•     Gregorio Del Pilar (Concepcion)
•     Kalayaan
•     Banton

Boliney, Abra had at least one COVID-19 case, according to a January 7 update from the provincial pandemic task force.

Dilasag, Aurora also had one COVID-19 case who has recovered from the disease.

Visayas

•     Jipapad

Mindanao

•     Tabuan-lasa
•     Sultan Dumalondong
•     Datu Unsay
•     Paglat
•     Don Victoriano Chiongbian (Don Mariano Marcos)
•     Hadji Panglima Tahil (Marunggas)
•     Omar
•     Pandami
•     Panglima Estino (New Panamao)
•     Pata
•     Languyan
•     Sergio Osmeña Sr.

Sergio Osmeña Sr. in Zamboanga del Norte recorded three COVID-19 cases, two of whom have recovered while one died.

Meanwhile, the country’s vaccination program has covered 193,492 health workers as of March 13.

Under the vaccine prioritization list, frontline workers in health facilities, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities should be first in line.—AOL, GMA News