The number of Covid-19-related deaths in Baguio City has doubled since the city recorded 21 deaths last week.
From April 1 to 14, the City Health Services Office has recorded 42 deaths, the highest so far since March last year.
Based on the Exploratory Data Analysis of Baguio City Covid-19 cases, a study led by the University of the Philippines Baguio in partnership with the CHSO, 17 of the 42 who died were senior citizens or those belonging to the 60 to 69 years old age group.
The 42 deaths came from cases spread out in 30 barangays.
The highest number of deaths in a day was recorded on April 9 where nine out of the 30 cases recorded that day died.
The research also stated 14 of those who died were asymptomatic, three were declared dead on arrival in hospitals, and seven were close contacts of Covid-19 cases.
It added four of the 42 deaths were declared recovered but they died within seven days after their recovery.
Baguio has so far recorded 170 Covid-19-related deaths, which is 1.86 percent of the 9,045 cases logged in the city as of April 14.
The research team stated that in every 1,000 individuals who tested positive for the Covid-19, there are 19 who died of the infection.
The team added that on the average, those who died had undergone their swab test within six to 16 days before they perished.
At the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Adult Infectious Disease Specialist Bernard Demot said the hospital has logged 31 Covid-19-related deaths from April 1 to 15.
BGHMC caters to patients from the Cordillera and nearby regions.
Demot said the deaths for the first half of this month is more than half of the 19 deaths recorded in March.
BGHMC has 131 active cases of which 91 are in need of oxygen and seven are critical. The others are mild and moderate cases.
Amidst the surge in cases, Demot said BGHMC is ready to accommodate patients as management is doing its best to prepare the hospital.
He said one ward that can accommodate 25 beds for Covid-19 patients is being prepared while a reorganization of the hospital workforce, especially the doctors and nurses, was done to ensure there is enough personnel to attend to the Covid-19 patients without compromising those confined in other wards.
“Those attending to the patients are no longer confined to the Internal Medicine (department). Other departments are helping in Covid-19 management,” he said. – Jane B. Cadalig
