Mountain Province might have been the last Cordillera local government unit (LGU) to log the first Covid-19 case, but it now has the third most in the entire region during the Holy Week that saw a staggering 2,909 new cases of which 22 percent come from said province.
Mountain Province logged the most of the seven LGUs with 640 cases during the period beating even Baguio which reported a record single day high of 221 on Good Friday, according to reports of the Department of Health – Cordillera.
Earlier, a DoH – Cordillera official who hails from said province cautioned Mountain Province folks to follow minimum health protocol due to the alarming increase in Covid cases there.
“Apay adi kayo ngen umegyat (Are you not afraid)?” asked DoH – Cordillera assistant director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan to the people of the province especially Bontoc due to the widespread community transmission.
“This is my earnest plea to my kakailians. Let us not wait for the worst to come! That time might be too late!” she added.
Apparently, her words is falling on deaf ears as Mountain Province has overtaken Kalinga which has 3,029 confirmed cases after logging 386 new cases during the Semana Santa.
The two provinces account for 13.68 percent and 13.65 percent, respectively, of the 22,186 total confirmed cases since March of last year.
In its Facebook Page, the Provincial Government of Mountain Province posted: “This Easter Sunday and onwards, we continue to pray for all who are infected with the Covid-19. We pray for your healing and for the repose of the souls of our dead loved ones.”
The DoH – Cordillera reported 110 new cases on Black Saturday and 186 on Easter Sunday.
Baguio and Benguet have more cases than Mountain Province after logging amazingly the same numbers of 560 during the same period. Baguio accounts for 8,067 of the total confirmed cases in the region or 36.36 percent, while Benguet has 6,219 or 28.03 percent.
Ifugao saw also a surge in cases with 288 and a single day high of 152 during Black Saturday for a total confirmed cases of 866 or 3.9 percent.
Apayao had 199 new cases with a single day high of 81 on Maundy Thursday for 662 total cases or 2.98 percent, while Abra remains the smallest incidence of Covid-19 62 new cases for 309 total confirmed cases or 1.39 percent of the pie.
Abra’s number does not include the 15 announced by the LGU on Easter Sunday as Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos has announced that all mass gatherings must be shunned for the meantime due to the surge in cases.
Abra is the first Cordillera LGU to log a Covid case and it is also the first to have its two top officials testing positive for Covid, with Rep. Joseph Bernos going into isolation after testing positive on March 26. Gov. Bernos completed her 16 day quarantine last March 29.
Baguio’s mayor Benjamin Magalong is the third top Cordillera official to test positive for Covid-19 and has since then declared a liquor ban in the city starting 10PM on Easter Sunday.
The Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart and Pines City Doctors Hospital have announced that their respective facilities are in full capacity.
