The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has recorded its highest single-day coronavirus death toll on Sunday with 23 persons succumbing to the disease.
As of 9 p.m. Sunday, data from the Department of Health (DOH) – Cordillera showed three deaths were recorded in Abra, Apayao, 4; Baguio City, 8; Benguet, 6; and Mountain Province, 2.
The new record brings to 1,034 the total deaths logged since the start of the pandemic last year. The region’s active cases is at 6,695, with Baguio City and Benguet recording the most number of infections at 2,268 and 1,483 respectively.
Abra has 522; Apayao with 1,002; Ifugao, 500; Kalinga, 690; and Mountain Province, 230.
Of the active cases, 2,766 are asymptomatic, 3,474 have mild symptoms, 211 moderate, seven severe, 45 critical and 192 for verification.
Dr. Donnabel Tubera-Panes, chief of Baguio City’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, in a phone interview said households and workplaces, where the transmissions happen, need to step up in curbing the spread of the virus.
She said the fight against Covid-19 and the highly contagious Delta variant would need more than keeping up with the minimum health standards.
Panes said the proper use of face masks even within homes is encouraged, especially with children and elderlies and those with comorbidities around.
She said a “bubble” could be created for the vulnerable persons and no visitors allowed to reduce the risk of transmission. “We cannot let the virus defeat us,” she said, reminding persons to immediately isolate and test family members who are suspected carriers.
In earlier interviews, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city had to further beef up its control measures to slow down the spread of the virus.
He urged residents to refrain from unnecessary travels outside of their homes to lower the chances of contracting the virus especially of a more virulent nature as the Delta is believed to be the prevalent variant.
He said the city’s control and contingency measures are in place but with the virus raging, self-discipline and self-protection are paramount. (PNA)