Baguio Covid deaths 136; most victims unvaccinated

September deadliest month 

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- September was this summer capital’s deadliest month of the pandemic with highest death toll of the Covid-19 virus at 136.
    Data from the UP Baguio Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science and Baguio City Health Services Office showed  the city recorded its second and third highest numbers of fatalities in April and May with 85 and 53, respectively.
    It was in these months that the city experienced its third peak in cases as driven by the Alpha and Beta variants, according to City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo.
     The present surge believed to be propelled by the more contagious Delta variant was the city's fourth peak.
    Galpo said the city had its first two case leaps in September 2020 and in January this year.
    But the Delta-driven swell is so far the highest surpassing the levels of all the past peaks on all accounts.
    The number of Covid-19 cases had more than doubled in just a month from August to September in almost all of the age groups in the city.
     Data from the UP Baguio Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and the City Health Services Office showed the level of increase in each age category.
    For 0-9 years age group, the figure jumped from 211 in August to 486 in September.
    Galpo said majority of the city's patients were unvaccinated and belonged to the economic group.
     The CESU said roughly 55 percent of the cases from August 18 to September 30 have not received anti-COVID-19 shots while 16 percent were just partially vaccinated based on data from the UP Baguio Mathematics and Computer Science and the CHSO.
     In terms of health status, around 96 percent are asymptomatic to mild while 1.81 percent were moderate, .58 percent severe and 1.82 percent died.
     Most of the patients belong to the 20 to 49 years old age group known also as the economic or working group.
     Data showed that of the 8,040 total number of Covid-19 cases from Aug. 1 to Sept. 27, 4,619 were aged 20 to 49. There were more female at 4,361 than male (3,679).
    The CESU said the case clusters were in homes, churches and workplaces such as construction sites, car wash, and government and private offices.