DESPITE the increasing number of confirmed coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the highlands remain in moderate risk compared to other areas in the country.
The Department of Health (DOH)-CAR, in its August 27 media briefing, said Cordillera's Covid-19 cases increased by 61 percent since August 12.
Dr. Ruby Constantino, regional director of DOH-CAR, said there are already 708 confirmed cases from the 439 reported on August 12, with 10 deaths or 1.4 percent fatality rate and 526 recoveries or 76.29 percent recovery rate.
"The incidence rate is at 38.73 per 100,000 population while the case doubling time is now at 15.67 days while the critical care utilization rate is at 43.2 percent which still situates us at the initiation phase moderate risk," Constantino said.
Constantino added that 396 (55.93 percent) males were affected with an age group of 20 to 39 years old.
Of the 708 cases, 159 are still admitted and are in stable condition while three have severe cases and are being closely monitored.
Constatinto said clustering of cases was noted in Abra, particularly in the municipalities of Bucay and Lacub; the municipalities of Mankayan and La Trinidad in Benguet; a religious congregation in Kalinga, in Sagada, in Mountain Province, and in the Barangays of Camp 7, Irisan and Queen of Peace in Baguio City aside from supermarkets, banks and government work places.
Karen Lonogan, DOH-CAR senior health program officer, said 55 percent or 390 individuals belonging to the essential sector were infected.
"Belonging to this essential sector are our health care workers where 88 individuals were affected, 73 from our uniformed personnel, those coming from banks including their security personnel listed 45, 24 vegetable dealers and farmers, merchandisers working in grocery stores listed 22 while others make the bulk of the cases at 160 which includes street sweepers, drivers, 36 locally stranded individuals, 12 Overseas Filipino Workers and three persons deprived of liberty aside from the recorded clustering of cases," Lonogan said.