Daily Covid-19 cases down 70% in Ilocos

By John Michael Mugas 

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Only six Covid-19 cases were reported in the Ilocos region between Feb. 12 and 18, reflecting a 70-percent drop in daily average caseload compared with the previous week, the regional Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
    In an advisory, the DOH said only one Covid-19 patient per day was detected in the region, with no new severe and critical cases tagged among the new cases.
    Health authorities said there were no new deaths due to the virus in the previous week, adding that in all health facilities in the region, only one patient was a confirmed severe and critical case.
    The healthcare utilization rate in the region fell below 10 percent, with 13 of 179 intensive care unit (ICU) beds set aside for Covid-19 patients occupied.
    At least 76 of 968 non-ICU beds for Covid-19 patients in the region were being used, the regional DOH added.
    Despite the falling Covid-19 cases, the regional DOH still urged residents not to let their guard down by following health protocols.
    They also asked the public to “double up on protection with vaccination,” particularly by getting booster shots against the virus.
    DOH data showed that 40 percent of the 3.8 million fully vaccinated individuals had at least one booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.