3 Kalinga towns at critical risk for COVID-19

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Three towns in Kalinga are considered at critical risk for the spread of COVID-19 even as the province recorded a surge in infections in the past week.

The provincial epidemiology and surveillance office said the number of cases spiked in Balbalan, Pasil and Pinukpuk.

Rizal town and Tabuk City are considered at high risk, Tanudan and Tinglayan at moderate risk while Lubuagan is considered at low risk.

The province recorded 330 cases in the first week of this month, more than half of the 649 recorded for the whole month of August.

Authorities warned the public that the number of cases could further increase after the province detected its first case of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health-Cagayan Valley office said all the six towns in Quirino were classified as high risk.

The Quirino Provincial Medical Center, the only hospital in the province, closed its outpatient department yesterday after 30 healthcare workers tested positive for the virus.

Cagayan reported the highest number of deaths at 204 from Sept. 1 to 8. It logged 4,687 active cases as of Wednesday.

Tuguegarao City and Baggao town remain under the strictest enhanced community quarantine until Sept. 12 and 13, respectively. – Victor Martin