The Department of Health is calling for urgency in implementing actions by local government units and for the public’s conscious efforts to stem surges and reduce new daily cases of the Covid-19.
“As we appeal for the public to follow the minimum health standards, the DOH also calls for the LGUs to exhibit urgency in implementing actions to further case surges and push down our newly detected daily cases. Our immediate priority is the prevention of the increase in severe and critical cases, and most importantly, to save lives,” DOH-Cordillera Assistant Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan said.
In the latest briefing on the regional Covid-19 situation on March 25, Pangilinan reported the Cordillera has averaged 192 cases per day from March 17 to 24, with 35 deaths or about four to five fatalities per day, which is far higher compared in the previous months where the region only averaged around 30 to 50 positive cases daily.
“This is alarming because our critical care utilization rate is already in high risk, and so we really have to do something about the surge of new cases per day,” Pangilinan said.
While the region’s two-week growth change remains in moderate risk at 35 percent, its average daily attack rate (ADAR) is in high risk at 9.33 percent for every 100,000 population as of March 24. Among the provinces, the ADAR of Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, and Mountain Province are in high risk.
As surge in cases is observed nationwide, Pangilinan said the problem is that minimum health standards, which remain the best method of preventing virus transmission, are rendered ineffective due to lack of discipline.
“Hindi talaga umuubra. We are trying to ease up our travel restrictions just so we can improve our economy, pero ang nangyayari ay wala namang disiplina ang mga tao, they are not doing their part,” she said.
Pangilinan added government health workers from municipalities who have been sending messages to the DOH-Cordillera have also sounded their frustrations and stress over the public disregard of minimum of health standards.
She said DOH enjoins the public’s conscious effort to stay at home, avoid unessential travels, and follow the health protocols.
“Hindi po ito rocket science. It only entails discipline, obedience, and cooperation, so that we will be the solution rather than the problem,” she said. – Hanna C. Lacsamana
April 25, 2024
