Covid cases down; Baguio prepares vs Delta Variant

CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo
 
BAGUIO CITY -- The number of Covid fatalities had gone down in the past weeks in this summer capital. Thanks to efforts to seek out and vaccinate the most vulnerable population.
    Data from the City Health Services Office headed by Dr. Rowena Galpo showed the city only had 13 deaths from June 1 to     June 22 which is a far cry from the previous record of 2-3 deaths a day.
    Earlier, Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered fast-tracking of vaccination of residents aged 65 years and above, the most susceptible age group as a means of preventing more deaths.
    Through the help of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the district health centers led by president Councilor     Michael Lawana, said residents were located and convinced to take the shots.
    The city also continues to conduct its mobile vaccination operations to reach immobile patients even as it maintains a vaccination fast lane for those with ailments like cancer and kidney diseases.
    The mayor said that apart from seeking early consult, vaccination is one way to curb the high incidence of death among Covid-19 patients.
    The World Health Organization and the Dept. of Health said all COVID-19 vaccines with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) can prevent hospitalization and death.
    Galpo said the city’s fatality rate has decreased to 2.04 percent with only three deaths June 2 to 9;
    Last May 10, the city recorded its highest fatality rate at 2.09 percent with 247 deaths out of 11,814 cases.
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    This, as the city government is readying contingency measures against the Delta coronavirus variant said to be more severe and more contagious than the other variants.
    Mayor Magalong during the management committee meeting June 22 said the city will again expand its capacity on prevention, detection, isolation and treatment.
    Focus will be given on the following: adding isolation facilities and beds in anticipation of increased hospitalizations due to the new variant’s propensity to cause more severe symptoms; expediting vaccination, intensifying compliance to the minimum public health standards, among others.
    “We are going to get hit.  It is just a matter of time but we can do something to slow it down and try our best to manage it by building up our capacity,” the mayor said.
    The World Health Organization said the Delta variant, which was first identified in India last February, "may emerge as the dominant coronavirus variant globally."

The Dept. of Health said “it is believed to be 60 percent more contagious than the Alpha (UK) variant where one positive person can infect eight persons and that people infected could be more likely to be hospitalized.”

At present, the country has detected a total of 17 Delta variant cases.

City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo said that the following measures will be conducted:

*To ensure early detection, aggressive contact tracing, monitoring of clusters and aggressive testing of sectors at risk

*Tightening of control at points of entry

*Enhancement of minimum public health standards by monitoring compliance in the barangay level, public places, work places and limiting mass gatherings,

*Completion of quarantine or isolation period and encourage the use of facility isolation

*Ramp up vaccination roll out by opening other vaccination sites and hiring more vaccinators and recruiting volunteers

*Protecting the vulnerable group through home visits by the barangay health workers and provision of immunity boosters

*Enhanced information campaign on minimum public health standards

* Enhance management of cases, ensure logistical supply chains; and

* Imposition of lockdowns and ensure supply of food and essential need and conduct of disinfection measures.                       ***

Mayor Magalong stressed the importance of having good ventilation in any location whether in homes, work places or any establishment in preventing the spread of Covid-19.

“Open windows and doors or any opening to allow air circulation in your homes, offices and establishments,” the mayor advised adding that this is part of the minimum public health standards being promoted by the government to lessen the chances of contracting the virus.

The mayor plans to procure instruments that can measure air circulation in an area to help the city determine which establishments do not have enough ventilation to the detriment of their workers. 

This will guide these establishments in adopting engineering interventions to remedy the problem and ensure the health and safety of their employees.

The mayor said the city through the Sanitation Division of the City Health Services Office under engineer Charles Carame validated the ventilation in one of the business process outsourcing (BPO) companies where a Covid-19 case outbreak occurred using a borrowed equipment from Texas Instruments company.

“Air was measured in one room and the Air Change per Hour (ACH) was found insufficient with 3.4 ACH.  Occupational safety and health (OSH) standard requires 8 ACH but experts say 12 ACH for a Covid-free room,” Carame reported.

The mayor urged businesses lacking in ventilation to adapt remedial measures or do necessary structural changes if possible to ensure they have proper ventilation.