March 28, 2024

Strict local health containment measures will still be implemented in the Cordillera even if the localities were placed under the low and medium risk modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) category.
The national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has placed Baguio City and Benguet under moderate risk MGCQ until July 31, which means the local government units will still implement strict health protocols and containment measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19.
The other provinces in the Cordillera were placed under low risk MGCQ.
Department of Health-Cordillera Director Amelita Pangilinan said despite the quarantine classifications, the public must still observe the minimum health protocols laid down by the agency, obey protocols, and maintain discipline.
Pangilinan said Cordillera ranked 16th out of the 17 regions in the country in terms of the number of Covid-19 cases. The region with the lowest number of cases is Region 12 (Soccskargen).
As of July 16, the Cordillera has recorded 143 Covid-19 cases, of which 28 are admitted at the hospitals or quarantine facilities. All of them are in stable condition.
Pangilinan said out of the 143 cases, 113 have recovered, placing the region’s recovery rate at 79.6 percent, while the number of deaths remains at two, leaving the case fatality rate at 1.4 percent.
The region’s incidence rate or the number of new cases is 7.8 per 100,000 population, while the case doubling time is 15.71 days.
The region’s critical care utilization rate is 28 percent, which is below the 30 percent danger zone, which means hospitals and facilities attending to Covid-19 patients are not overwhelmed, according to Pangilinan.
As of July 16, the DOH reported 27 towns out of the Cordillera’s 77 municipalities were affected by the Covid-19, while 41 of Baguio City’s 128 barangays were affected.
In Abra, five of the province’s 27 municipalities have been affected by the Covid-19 while six of Apayao’s seven towns registered cases.
In Kalinga, only Tabuk City has so far recorded Covid-19 cases while four of Ifugao’s 11 municipalities have been affected.
In Benguet, nine of the provinces’ 13 towns recorded cases. Only Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, and Atok remain Covid-19-free.
In Mountain Province, two municipalities – Besao and Paracelis – have been affected out of the province’s 10 towns.
Pangilinan said more cases are expected to be added to the daily tally of Covid-19 infections, which reflects the region’s effective strategies in detecting, testing, isolating, and treating those affected. She added the region is now capable of conducting more tests daily.
Cordillera’s critical care units are not also overwhelmed because of the equitable distribution of resources, such as equipment and manpower.
“Each province has been capacitated to manage mild cases of Covid-19 as we now set our minds on disease prevention while balancing our economic and health objectives,” she said.
“Despite this, we must not lower our guards and make Covid-19 (prevention) part of our lives. Let us maintain discipline and observe the minimum health standards by wearing masks, observing physical distancing, frequent hand washing, and avoiding crowded places,” Pangilinan added. – Jane B. Cadalig