Baguio City has recorded two cases of Covid-19 Omicron variant cases and reported its highest daily tally of 725 cases on Jan. 20.
The Department of Health-Cordillera has confirmed on Jan. 18 the detection of two Omicron cases in Baguio, both of whom have no history of travel outside the city.
In a release, the DOH-CAR said one of the patients exhibited symptoms while the other was asymptomatic and a close contact of a patient who tested positive for the Covid-19.
The two patients tested positive for Covid-19 on Dec. 15 and 24, 2021 and their samples were sent to the Philippine Genome Center for whole genome sequencing on Dec. 23 and 28, 2021, respectively.
Both samples were reported positive for the Omicron variant on Jan. 15.
The Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit was investigating the cases and tracing all possible contacts of the two cases as of press time.
The DOH reiterated its call for those who are not yet vaccinated to have their Covid-19 shots and those eligible to have their boosters.
“Vaccines are still our best defense and proven to be safe, effective, and free,” the DOH said, while reminding the public to continue complying with the minimum health protocols.
The city has recorded 725 new cases with five deaths on Jan. 20, the highest tally since the city breached the 500 daily mark on Jan. 13. All the patients who died of the infection have comorbidities.
Of the 725 cases on Jan. 20, 535 had mild symptoms while nine were considered moderate cases. One was critical while 180 did not show symptoms.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier expressed fears the Omicron variant has already infiltrated Baguio City, citing as basis the trend in the increase in cases.
The city started to hit the 500-daily tally on Jan. 13 at 516. Cases surged to 613 on Jan. 15 and 646 on Jan. 18.
As of Jan. 20, Baguio logged 36,261 cases of which 4,125 are active.
A total of 332,178 RT-PRC tests were done so far in the city. – Jane B. Cadalig
April 26, 2024
