Covid-19 cases in Baguio has reached the 10,000 mark, nearly three times the number since the start of the year and 25 percent of which was logged this month alone.
With 99 new cases on Friday, the total is exactly 10,000 confirmed cases 13 months after the first case was registered here.
On December 31, 2020, the Public Information Office Baguio reported 3,801 total cases in the city, which grew to 5,002 on February 1, then breached 6,000 by March 4 and the 7,000 mark by March 23.
By the end of March, there were already 7,465 cases as more tests proved positive the next days at the close of the Holy Week.
April 2 had the most cases with 227 as April infection practically went over 100 daily. In just nine days, the number broke 1,000. By April 14, Baguio had a total of more than 9,000 cases.
By April 19, Baguio has more than 2,000 already for the month alone. Some 500 cases were logged the next five days as the city finally broke the 10,000 mark.
In contrast, it took Baguio nearly five months to breach the 1,000 mark in July last year and another three months to reach the 2,000. By then October was already considered a red light for Baguio when it experienced a then record high cases on a daily basis. April 2021 proved an even bigger challenge.
Medical workers were also stretched to the limit literally with more patients to care for that pile up every day. With more new cases and less recoveries, active cases swell in number.
From 588 active cases on April 1, this rose to 878 on April 2, 951 on April 3 then a four digit on April 4. It rose to a high of 1,454 on April 14 and has now whittled to 1,288 active cases.
With about 76 recoveries for the last 23 days, hospital workers have to tend to 109 new cases every day or nearly 150 percent increase daily.
For deaths, Baguio has had 65 Covid related deaths this month or nearly three deaths a day with the highest on April 9 with nine and two instances when deaths reach seven, April 7 and 19.
To address the critical status of the city’s critical care isolation utilization, mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city is working on putting up a modular temporary treatment and monitoring facility at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center with 30-40 isolation beds.
It was also able to make use of Eurotel in front of the City Hall as an isolation area for mild patients and billeting place for health workers. Another hotel, Travel Light, also fronting the City Hall, will be commissioned for the same purpose.
The Sto. Nino Hospital, the Baguio Teachers’ Camp and Baguio Convention Center still have isolation beds, added Magalong, who returned to work last week after 14 days of isolation due to Covid-19.
City administrator Bonifacio dela Pena said earlier that 50 beds will be added to the Sto. Nino Hospital facility and 50 beds are currently upgraded for step down occupancy.
“Nakakatakot sa dami ng cases sa buwan na eto (It is really scare due to the number of cases this month),” exclaimed city epidemiology and surveillance unit (CESU) chief Dr. Donabelle Tubera during a press conference earlier this month.
Meanwhile, as of Friday, the Cordillera Administrative Region has 28,269 confirmed cases, more than twice the 13,374 logged in February 16 this year, or a measly 56 days. That is an average of 266 cases per day.
The region reached 20,000 confirmed cases on April 1, meaning 8,269 cases were logged only for this month.
