AN ADDITIONAL 1,253 confirmed coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases or a 22-percent increase was added to the latest data of the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR), as of December 16, 2020.
Doctor Ruby Constantino, regional director of DOH-CAR, explained that as of the moment, the Cordillera region ranks ninth among 16 other regions in the country having the most number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks.
“In the Cordillera region, we now have a total of 6,994 confirmed cases with 694 cases still admitted but in stable condition. Eighty deaths have been recorded, giving the region a 1.14-percent case fatality rate. As to our average daily attack rate (ADAR), a two-week growth rate, the region is at moderate risk, with an 80-percent speed of increase in the number of cases in the region or is at 4.65 percent with a target of at least one percent,” Constantino said.
Cordillera’s Covid-19 cases on December 1 was at 5,741, with 5,202 recoveries or a 90.6-percent recovery rate.
Baguio City and Benguet Province remain at high-risk for having the most cases at 50 percent for Baguio and 38 percent for Benguet Province.
“The Baguio–La Trinidad–Itogon–Tublay–Tuba (BLISTT) ADAR data indicates these areas to be at high risk, with Mankayan in Benguet in critical risk. Clustering of cases was recorded, where crowding of people is usually observed, such as in private and government places, households, enclosed and semi-closed facilities and in commercial or public areas,” the regional director said.
The health department identified an area under critical and moderate risk based on the growth rate and the ADAR. Mankayan was identified as a critical risk because of the speed of increase, which is 231 percent, considered by the health department as high with 60.79 ADAR data.
“Ever since we noticed the increasing cases in Mankayan, especially there at Lepanto Mines testing, have been done every day, and data shows a gradual decrease in the number of cases,” Constantino added.
On Wednesday, the municipal government of Mankayan said 40 new recoveries were transferred to their respective houses.
Benguet has 500 active cases, with 2,153 recoveries and 26 deaths.
The town of Mankayan recorded the most active cases with 218, followed by La Trinidad with 145 active cases, Tuba with 38 and Itogon with 45.
At least 2,000 individuals are being targeted for the two-day aggressive mass testing in Mankayan.
On December 16, a total of 927 patients were swab tested in the town, 194 swabs in Poblacion, 376 in Sapid and 357 in Paco.
On December 17, stakeholders avail of the second and last day of the aggressive community testing program, spearheaded by Bases Conversion and Development Authority and National Task Force.
In Benguet’s capital town of La Trinidad, health workers and the BCDA also conducted its third day of mass testing in the town.
In the mining town of Itogon, the Municipal Health Services Office conducted an aggressive community testing on Wednesday, with 258 swabs tested in two barangays.
The Covid-19 testing will continue until Friday, December 18, to test all food and non-food business establishment personnel and public utility jeepney and tricycle drivers. (With a report from Lauren Alimondo)
