COVID spike seen in 7 provinces, 8 cities
SEVEN provinces and eight cities in the Visayas and Mindanao area have been identified by the independent OCTA Research Team as “areas of concern” after seeing an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases as well as high average daily attack rates (ADAR) in the past seven days.
In its latest COVID-19 Update, the OCTA identified the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Koronadal, and Cotabato in Mindanao, and Bacolod, Iloilo, and Dumaguete in Visayas as being “areas of concern.”
Similarly, the OCTA noted concerns in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Leyte in the Visayas, and Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, and Bukidnon in Mindanao.
Among cities, seeing spike in cases are Dumaguete (206%), Koronadal (96%), Cotabato (62%), Bacolod (56%), and Davao (54%).
Having high ADARs among cities are Dumaguete (30.57), Koronadal (28.95), Iloilo (24.08), Bacolod (21.15), Cagayan de Oro (17.84), and General Santos (17.71).
All seven provinces, meanwhile, saw a surge in cases: Iloilo with 29 percent, Negros Occidental with 43 percent, Davao del Sur with 51 percent, South Cotabato with 36 percent, Negros Oriental with 93 percent, Leyte with 51 percent, and Bukidnon with 61 percent.
The observation of the OCTA is in accordance with the report of the Department of Health (DOH) – Epidemiology Bureau, which said cases in Mindanao and Visayas are continuously on an upsurge with the former at a “fast rate” while the latter at a “gradual pace”.
Meanwhile, the OCTA said cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) are back to their downward trend with a negative 11 percent one-week growth rate.
“The number of new COVID-19 cases in the NCR Plus resumed a downward trajectory after a week of unstable trends,” said OCTA, adding that the reproduction number in the NCR, from May 31 to June 6, was at 0.74.
For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is already conducting an extensive assessment of the prevailing healthcare capacities in the regions that are seeing surge in cases.
In particular, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are looking if there is a need to send additional healthcare workers (HCWs) in the provinces.
“For additional HCWs, we need to balance this since NCR hospitals are still at moderate risk and we cannot afford to have shortage in personnel here,” said Vergeire in a virtual press briefing Monday.
“If there is a need, we will identify ways and means so we can send help to regions in need,” she added.
