44.9% of Baguio villages hit by COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — At least 44.9 percent or 58 of the 129 barangays in Baguio City have been affected by the coronavirus virus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Donna Tubera-Panes, city health services office infectious disease cluster head, said Barangays Camp 7, Middle Quezon Hill, Bakakeng Central, Guisad Central, Irisan, New Lucban and San Vicente, which are densely populated, have the most number of cases.

Panes said more than half of the confirmed cases neither have travel history nor been exposed to COVID patients.

She said 56 percent of the patients are asymptomatic while 41 percent have mild symptoms. Only one percent manifested severe symptoms.

Panes said the increase in cases was a result of expanded testing. From only 50, she said a maximum of 800 testings are being conducted daily.

Naval base closed

In Zamboanga City, a naval base was placed on lockdown after six Marines belonging to the Naval Forces Western Mindanao were infected.

The Marines are among the 23 new cases recorded by the local inter-agency task force on COVID-19.

“These are cases of local transmission because the soldiers have no travel history,” Maj. Arvin John Encinas, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, said.

Two of the soldiers are confined at the West Metro Medical Center.

Seventeen new cases were recorded in the city, bringing the total to 546.

3 kids infected

In Bulacan, three children aged three, seven and nine in Balagtas are among the seven new cases recorded in the town.

The province now has 1,263 cases, with 36 added on Thursday.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson said they would bar returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)  and locally stranded individuals (LSIs) until Aug. 14 amid a surge in confirmed cases.

The province has a total of 24 cases, with 15 recorded on Thursday.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc said he would also request the suspension of the return of LSIs and OFWs to manage the situation.

Meanwhile, in Eastern Samar, job opportunities in construction and maintenance sectors will be available until December to LSIs, according to Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda.

“The city government will allot P40 million for employment purposes for LSIs,” Agda said.

He advised interested returnees to coordinate with the city disaster risk reduction and management council or public employment service office. — Raymund Catindig, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Miriam Desacada