Down to an average of three new cases and single death daily, Baguio City is considered better off now compared to the past year in terms of managing its Covid-19 situation, even with the threat of the Omicron variant looming as the first two cases of the variant of concern were detected in the country in Dec. 14.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the number of active Covid-19 cases in the city is down to 16 as of Dec. 15 and new cases are down to one to three cases in a day. From as high as 12 death toll in a day in Sept, 15, the city is now averaging one death daily with some consecutive days with no recorded deaths.
Magalong said there are already almost no Covid-19 patients confined in the hospitals as reported by the local health board, with three hospitals having no Covid patients at the moment.
The city’s temporary treatment and monitoring facility at the former Sto. Niño Hospital also now has less than 10 patients.
While the city’s healthcare utilization rate is increasing, the mayor said it is because it is already reducing the number of Covid beds in healthcare facilities.
“Is it a good sign for 2021? Yes it is. It only means that we were able to manage our Covid-19 situation with the help of everyone, the stakeholders and the community,” Magalong said.
He gave credit as well to the city’s high vaccination rollout, having reached 122 percent of the targeted population with first dose, 101 percent with second dose based on the Department of Health standard of vaccinating 70 percent of the eligible population.
“But as far as Baguio is concerned, we are aiming for 95 percent, and we are now at 99 percent for first dose and 87 percent for second dose,” he said.
For the pediatrics population or those aged 12 to 17 numbering about 42,000, the city has vaccinated 68 percent for first dose and 50.23 for second dose.
Magalong said the city has enough vaccines and the public may even choose the vaccine brand they prefer.
He encouraged those who are now eligible to receive booster shots (six months after second dose) to go the vaccination sites and get vaccinated.
The city also donated 34,000 vaccines to the BLISTT areas, Region 2 and 3, and Cordillera provinces.
As of Dec. 16, the city has 30,004 total number Covid-19 cases, 20 are active, 29,266 have recovered, and with 718 death cases.
The city remains active in its RT-PCR testing having done a total of 309,469 tests since the pandemic started. – Hanna C. Lacsamana
