Local health officials have not seen any signs of an increase of Covid-19 cases even after the celebration the Panagbenga.
City Health Officer Rowena Galpo said they expected an increase in cases when the city government eased restrictions and held the festival, but data showed that cases remain low.
“Our vaccination rate is high and the residents are still observing the minimum public health protocols like distancing, wearing of face mask, washing of hands, and ventilation in buildings,” Galpo said.
She said these were the factors that contributed to the low number of cases being logged in the city despite the holding of the three-week festival.
As of 6 p.m. on April 4, the city has seven active cases. The city has recorded a total of 41,441 Covid-19 cases since 2020.
As of April 4, the city government has administered the first dose of the vaccine to 293,637 individuals; second dose to 280,416, and a booster shot to 106,829.
Baguio is targeting to inoculate 281,000 of its adult population against Covid-19, out of the city’s 366,000 total residents, based on the survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2020.
Meanwhile, 34,470 members of the pediatric population belonging to the 12 to 17 years old age group or 85.67 percent of the 40,238 targets have been fully vaccinated.
Among children aged five to 11 years old, 8,250 have been fully vaccinated out of the 46,955 eligible population.
Galpo said they still do the mobile vaccination and get the help of the barangay health workers and nutrition scholars, including officials of the barangays, in convincing those who have not received the full dose or the booster shots to be vaccinated for their protection. – PNA
April 20, 2024
