COVID-19 situation in Central Visayas: Double digits in daily cases

CEBU, Philippines — The number of daily COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas is back to double digits in the past two weeks but the piece of good news is that the daily attack rate is still below 10.

“In our last media conference, I’ve been telling you nga we are one digit and having an average cases of seven… karon, nitaas na sab ta… persistently increasing, but not that significant,” said Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, cluster head of the Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health (DOH)-7.

In the past two weeks, daily cases ranged from 30, 33, to 43, higher than the single digits the weeks before.

“So persistently, slowly increasing, gradual increase in the number of cases. In fact, we notice sa atong two-week growth rate, we are on a 211 percent increase as compared to the previous two weeks nato and the current two weeks nato. We are increasing, actually, but not too high and not that too significant, persistently, slowly increasing ang atong numbers,” Cañal said.

The positive news is that the daily attack rate remains below 10 but Cañal said this is no reason to be complacent.

“But then, let us not be too confident… two weeks ago, we want nga mura og padung na ta mo-flatten the line but karon, naghinay-hinay na pud ta og saka,” Cañal said.

The rise in cases can be attributed to people no longer practicing minimum public health measures religiously.

She said it is important that people continue to be cautious, especially that the number of people in Central Visayas that are vaccinated is less than 85 percent.

“COVID- 19 is still with us up to a certain degree but still it is a degree. The only way to be protected from severe COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and get booster shots for additional protection,” said Dr. Van Phillip Baton, DOH-7 program manager of Emerging and Re-emerging Infection Diseases.

Baton said vaccination among senior citizens remains low. He said senior citizens should realize that the only way they can continue to enjoy life and be part of their children and grandchildren’s lives is to protect themselves through vaccination.

“They should think that these life stages are something to look forward to and they cannot attend these if they have COVID-19,” Baton said.

He encouraged the public to continue wearing a mask, practice social distancing, eat in open areas, avoid crowded places, and get vaccinated. – JMO (FREEMAN)