Baguio still low risk Covid status even as infections up

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY – This city’s Covid-19 positivity rate the past two weeks has averaged 4.48 percent while growth rate for the same period was at 116 percent as the Summer Capital continues to be at low risk status according to a local health official.
    During the regular management committee meeting of city officials led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, July 7, via zoom, Health Services Office (CHSO) head Dr. Rowena Galpo reported that the city’s average daily attack rate was 2.8; weekly infection rate was 1.6 while average tests done in the past two weeks was 274.
    She said the city’s hospitalization critical utilization rate was 12.14 percent (46/379) while the isolation facility bed occupancy was 3.27 percent (19/275), both as of July 6 this year.
    As of July 2, Galpo said the distribution of Covid-19 variants of concern by type in the city are Omicron at 253 cases (39 percent);  Delta, 222 cases (34 percent); Alpha, 120 cases (18 percent); and Beta at 55 cases or nine percent of total cases.
    Meanwhile, the city’s Covid-19 vaccine supply continues to be robust with a total of 89,111 with Pfizer for 12 years old and above (Comirnaty) at 45,552, the health official disclosed.
    Other vaccines in stock are Astrazeneca at 25,720; Pfizer for 11 years old (Tozinameran), 12,690; Sinovac, 3,339; and Moderna at 1,810 vaccines, Galpo said.
    The city government earlier reminded the public anew to observe health protocols as the number of active cases of Covid-19 in the city recorded more than a fourfold increase in June.
    According to the city’s Covid-19 tracker, the number of active cases as of June 29 was 68, with the addition of 10 new cases.
    On June 14, the city’s active Covid-19 cases were only 12, with only one case logged that day.
    The highest number of new cases were registered on June 28 at 25, followed by June 27 at 15.
    The tracker also showed that the city was doing over 300 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and over 50 rapid antigen tests every day.
    "Parati naman na nire-remind pa rin sa lahat ang pag-observe ng self-protection kasi may Covid-19 pa rin at pwede pa rin tayong mahawa (Everyone is always reminded to observe self-protection because Covid-19 is still here and we can still be infected),” Public Information Office chief Aileen Refuerzo said.
    City health office records showed non-intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate was 10.15 percent or 34 of the 335 beds being used by Covid-19 patients; 6.82 percent ICU bed utilization rate or 3 of the 44 beds; and 9.76 percent health care utilization rate or 37 of the 374 beds.
    “Marami ang mild cases kaya marami ang nagpapagaling at nag-a-isolate sa bahay nila (Tere are more who have mild cases and are in isolation and recovering at home),” she said. – With a report from Liza Agoot/ PNA