Over 200 new Covid Ilocos cases; still up

By John Michael Mugas 

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — More Covid-19 cases were detected in the Ilocos Region between May 7 and 13, with 259 individuals testing positive for the disease, the regional Dept. of Health said.
    In its latest weekly case bulletin on Tuesday, May 16, the DOH said the daily average caseload in the region within the period was 37, or 58 percent higher than the cases reported in the previous week.
    None of the new cases were tagged as severe or critical, the DOH said.
    The health department said no Covid-19 deaths were reported in the past week.
    Amid the rise of Covid-19 cases, there was no increase in the healthcare utilization rate in local Covid-19 health facilities.
    At least 25 of the 190 intensive care unit (ICU) beds set aside for suspect, probable, and confirmed cases, had been occupied, the DOH data showed.
    Seven percent, or 77 of the 1,063 non-ICU beds, were also occupied.
    The DOH had urged the public not to be complacent about Covid-19 and reminded them to follow health protocols.
    They also urged the public to “double up protection with vaccination” for both the primary and booster doses.
    Only 40 percent of the 3.8 million fully vaccinated residents had received at least one dose of booster shot, the DOH data showed.