Cagayan logs record 1,066 COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines — Cagayan logged a record 1,066 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, according to the OCTA Research Group.

In its report released yesterday, OCTA said the number of new cases in the province exceeded the 537 recorded on Aug. 20.

From Aug. 17 to 23, Cagayan recorded an average of 387 new cases per day, up 42 percent from the 273 recorded in the preceding week.

The province has a ”critical” attack rate of 30.09 new infections per day for every 100,000 population.

Citing data from the Department of Health, OCTA said Cagayan also has the highest hospital bed and intensive care unit utilization rate in Cagayan Valley at 84 percent and 86 percent, respectively.

Among the areas in the province, Tuguegarao City has the highest number of cases with 323 recorded on Monday.

OCTA said it was the first time that the city had more than 200 cases in a day.

The research group said Tuguegarao has a critical attack rate of 73.34 daily new cases per 100,000 people as well as 85 percent hospital bed and 86 percent intensive care unit utilization.

Except for Batanes, where no new case has been recorded, COVID cases in other parts of Cagayan Valley are increasing.

From Aug. 17 to 23, Isabela recorded an average of 166 new cases per day (up from 111), Nueva Vizcaya had 53 (up from 36) and Quirino, 23 (up from nine).

ECQ in Baggao, Solana

As this developed, the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 approved the recommendation of local government officials to place Baggao and Solana towns under the strictest enhanced communityquarantine (ECQ) status.

As of Monday, Baggao logged 317 active cases while Solana recorded 211.

Tuguegarao City, now considered as the epicenter of COVID-19 in Cagayan Valley, is under ECQ until Aug. 28.

Local officials sought an extension of the quarantine classification for another two days or until Aug. 30 to pave the way for disinfection and more time to strictly enforce health protocols.

Only one of the 49 barangays in Tuguegarao did not record any COVID case.

As of Monday, the city health office logged 1,316 active cases.

Meanwhile, in Isabela, the city government of Ilagan placed 48 barangays on lockdown from Aug. 23 to 28.

In an executive order, Mayor Josemarie Diaz said the move was aimed at preventing local transmission of the virus.