Covid-19 cases in Kalinga doubled in April and constitutes a third of the total confirmed cases since the first case was logged last year as the province like five local government units in the Cordilleras will continue to be under general community quarantine for the whole month of May.
With 1,086 cases recorded by April 26, that is almost twice the number logged in March where 550 cases were reported, the Public Information Office – Tabuk reported.
Some 64 percent or 699 of the cases were logged in the capital town of Tabuk which is under high risk status, while new cases in Tanudan increased from one to 23 in April.
The cases alone in April is nearly a third of the total cases in the province which according to the Department of Health – Cordilleras say is 3,820, the fourth most in the region.
“Even if these are few but it spreads fast, it will boil down to a very high transmission risk and reflected as critical,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward Tandingan explained.
Aside from Tabuk and Tanidan, the municipalities are considered high-risk areas, while Balbalan, Pasil, and Rizal are categorized as moderate risk.
Tandingan also noted that there are more new cases than recoveries in Kalinga where the average is 31 new recoveries daily against an average of 42 new confirmed cases.
“Mas marami ang new cases kesa sa recoveries natin ngayon (There are more new cases compared to recoveries now) as compared to three to four weeks ago,” he noted.
He added that Kalinga has four people dying of Covid-19 monthly, while the province remains to be categorized as high epidemic risk level due to a high average daily attack rate of 19.9 and a medium two-week growth of 12.2.
The picture is grim in the region as the DoH recorded close to 30,000 confirmed cases already, some 10,000 alone for the month of April.
Abra, meanwhile, remains to be under modified enhanced community quarantine joining anew the National Capital Region and the Southern Tagalong provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna, Quirino and Santiago City in Isabela.
Abra will be under MECQ for the whole month of May while NCR Plus will only stay under such status until May 14.
Abra Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos again plead with her people to remain vigilant after five persons died this week.
In her Facebook post, the governor wrote: “There are five people who died from Covid… please Abrenios, if you feel anything not good, like fever, cough, colds or boduly ache, do not hesitate to see your doctor. That is okay, do not fear, Covid can be treated if it is detected early.”
She added: “Stay home use face masks inside and outside fo the house,wash your hands always before touching the face and observe social distancing.”
Abra, the first Cordillera LGU to report a Covid case, has the lowest confirmed cases with 505.
