Tarlac Town Has Zero Active COVID Cases, How Did They Do It?

Zero active cases is possible with discipline, mayor says.

by The reportr team

FILE PHOTO: A man in Tarlac province paddles his boat through an inundated rice field.

Photo/s: Ted Aljibe, Agence France-Presse

A sleepy farming town in Tarlac province is showing the entire nation that zero active cases of COVID-19 can be done and there's really no secret to it except to follow long-standing safety protocols, its mayor said Monday.

Pura town achieved the feat despite fully vaccinating just 7,000 people, 10,000 short of the target for herd immunity. Mayor Freddie Domingo said just one doctor at a time administers the vaccines.

How did Pura, Tarlac do it? According to Domingo -- social distancing, a ban on public gatherings, and a liquor ban to discourage inuman or drinking parties.

"Naging pro-active kami... Ininstil natin ang disiplina," Domingo told TeleRadyo.

As of Nov. 8, the Philippines had 32,077 active cases, mirroring a decline in infections. Restrictions in the country's pandemic epicenter, Metro Manila, have begun to ease with up to 70% of businesses and public transport allowed. Minors are also allowed outdoors for leisure for the first time in 20 months.

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