Covid-19 cases in the Cordillera continue to increase with almost 7,000 individuals infected as of Dec. 16.
Department of Health-Cordillera Director Ruby Constantino said the region recorded 6,994 cases, which is 1,253 cases or 22 percent higher than the number on Dec. 2, placing the region still at rank ninth among regions with Covid-19 cases in the country.
From the number, 694 cases are active but in stable condition while 80 already died from the disease or a case fatality rate of 1.14 percent.
As per its average daily attack rate (ADAR) and two-week growth rate, Constantino reported the Cordillera is in moderate risk with a growth rate change of 80 percent, which refers to the speed of increase of cases, and with an ADAR of 4.65 percent. The target is at least one percent.
Baguio City and Benguet remain in high risk for having the highest number of cases, making up 50 percent and 38 percent of the total cases, respectively.
The BLISTT area is in high risk and Mankayan is in critical risk level, although its average daily attack rate is decreasing.
Clustering of cases were noted in areas where there is crowding, such as in government and private workplaces, houses, enclosed facilities, and commercial areas.
As of Dec. 16, Baguio has 3,469 cases, 276 of them are active, with 3,143 recoveries, and 50 deaths. The city government has tested 84,125 of its population with a positivity rate of 10.87 percent.
Dr. Antoinette Agpas of DOH-Benguet said the province has 2,679 cases, most of which are from La Trinidad, Itogon, Tuba, and Mankayan.
Thirty-three percent of those infected are from the general population, while 57 percent or 1,522 cases were exposed to unknown Covid-19 positive individuals.
Fourteen percent of the total number of cases are from the mining towns due to enclosed working spaces and living conditions.
The province has a recovery rate of 80 percent or 2,153 individuals while its case fatality rate is 0.97 percent.
Positivity rate is at 5.81 percent, which is higher than the acceptable rate of not more than five percent. So far, 9.64 percent of Benguet’s population has been tested.
Agpas said La Trinidad and Benguet as a whole are in high epidemic risk. In moderate risk level are Atok, Itogon, Kapangan, Sablan, and Tuba; in low risk are Bakun, Buguias, and Tublay; and Bokod, Kabayan, and Kibungan are minimal risk.
Of the total, 358 patients or 72 percent are isolated in quarantine facilities at the municipal and provincial levels and 48 are under home quarantine, 24 of them have favorable home isolation condition while 24 have to be transferred to an isolation facilities.
For the holiday season, mayors of the BLISTT area have limited travel among the towns and city to essential needs in efforts to stem the increase of Covid cases this month. – Hanna C. Lacsamana
