LAPU-LAPU City in Cebu has been put under monitoring by the Department of Health (DOH) and might be placed under Alert Level 3 after November 30 due the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the area.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing Monday, November 22, that they saw a positive two-week growth rate in Lapu-Lapu, adding that the city is now classified as moderate risk for Covid-19.
“We have observed that metrics for Lapu-Lapu City may require escalation from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3,” Vergeire said.
Lapu-Lapu, along with other areas in Cebu, is under Alert Level 2 until November 30, 2021.
Data from the DOH tracker showed that Lapu-Lapu City had 73 Covid-19 cases, as of November 21. The case bulletin of the DOH-Central Visayas, however, showed only 52 active infections on Sunday.
Vergeire also reported that the moving seven-day growth rate of Lapu-Lapu City (November 8-14 versus November 15-21) was at -34 percent, with a 1.04 moving average daily attack rate from November 15 to 21.
Its two-week growth rate (October 25-November 7 versus November 8-21), however, was at 27.69 percent, with 1.30 moving average daily attack rate for November 8-21. This put Lapu-Lapu under moderate risk classification, said Vergeire.
The city’s bed utilization rate, meanwhile, was at 54.35 percent, while the mechanical ventilators utilization rate stood at 52.94 percent as of November 20.
The regional intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate was at 15.38 percent, while the ICU utilization rate was 0 percent.
“With these numbers, Lapu-Lapu City will be monitored if they need to be escalated to Alert Level 3 from Alert Level 2,” Vergeire said.
She added that reassessments of the Alert Level System will be done every 15th and 30th of each month, and an area may only deescalate after the implementation period.
“However, escalations may be recommended if at all warranted,” she added.
Aside from Lapu-Lapu City, other areas under moderate risk classification are Apayao, Baguio City and Mountain Province.
Batanes has been classified as high risk for Covid-19.