Health facilities and hospitals in the Cordillera are advised to still make its temporary treatment and monitoring facilities readily available despite the decrease in Covid-19 cases, in case there would be an upsurge in the coming weeks.
Department of Health-Cordillera epidemiologist Karen Lonogan reported that Covid-19 cases in the region have slightly decreased, from 59 cases a day to 29 cases a day in the previous two weeks.
Most of the cases were recorded in Baguio while Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Abra had the least number of cases.
Most of the cases come from the hospital and working sectors, majority is vaccinated, and most had been manifesting symptoms but are mild cases.
Lonogan, however, noted the number can be higher since most individuals are no longer subjecting themselves to Covid-19 testing.
“This is just the reported cases. Probably there are more cases at home that are not being reported, thinking they only have mild symptoms and they no longer go to consult, hence they are not tested for Covid-19,” Lonogan said.
While many facilities have either reduced or closed their isolation facilities, the DOH advises managements of health facilities and hospitals to still have its temporary treatment and monitoring facilities available for possible case surge.
“Dapat nandoon pa rin ang active conduct of accordion strategy kung saan pwede nating i-decrease ang number of isolation beds but if there is a need to increase it because nagkakaroon tayo ng upsurge of cases, kailangan readily available ang mga kailangang facilities,” she said.
In terms of vaccination, DOH-CAR nurse Geeny Anne Austria reported coverage for the region for first dose is at 88.38 percent while there are 1,248,227 or 97.01 who are fully vaccinated as of Dec. 13.
For first booster, 452,858 or 35.20 percent of target population have been vaccinated and 64,460 or 5.24 percent had their second booster
Austria said the region was also able to surpass the target of 90 percent for senior citizens at 91.08 percent fully vaccinated, but there are provinces that still have not attained the target. Only Baguio City, Abra, and Apayao have so far reached 90 percent coverage for senior citizens.
For the general population or those from 18 to 59 years old, 42 percent have been vaccinated with the first booster, with Baguio City registering the highest coverage at 71.55 percent, followed by Abra with 65.62 percent, while the rest are below 50 percent.
For those from 12 to 17 years old, 116.22 percent have been fully vaccinated and 29.48 percent had their first booster. In this bracket, only Abra has attained the target at 94.49 percent while the rest of the provinces covered around 30 percent.
Vaccination coverage for five to 11 years old is 54.54 percent, with Abra being the highest at 124.35 percent while the rest recorded above 50 percent coverage, except Benguet which had 25.47 percent.
The DOH aims to increase the coverage of the vulnerable groups until the rest of the year and encourages everyone to get boosted since the region has enough stocks of vaccines.
Health personnel are still targeting the vulnerable groups for booster coverage. Concerned national agencies have yet to issue guidelines for the administration of second booster for the general population. – Hanna C. Lacsamana
April 24, 2024
