THE independent OCTA Research Team yesterday reported significant increases in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in three highly urbanized cities in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In its May 19 COVID-19 report, the OCTA said surges in cases have been identified in Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, and Iloilo City from May 11 to 17.
For Cagayan de Oro City, OCTA said 94 new cases were registered, which is a 52 percent increase from its record the previous week.
In Davao City, a 36 percent climb was recorded after having an average of 61 new cases, while in Iloilo City, the average of 58 new cases means there was an increase of 99 percent.
On Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a surge in cases in eight of the nine regions in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The DOH said majority of the increasing trend in cases can be found in highly-urbanized areas.
In the Visayas, DOH data showed cases in Western Visayas increased by 19 percent, and 13 percent in Eastern Visayas. The average daily attack rates in the two regions rose from 3.78 to 4.48 in Western Visayas, and from 1.38 to 1.56 in Eastern Visayas.
The DOH also said that in Mindanao, statistics show growth in cases in Zamboanga Peninsula (49%), Northern Mindanao (88%), Davao Region (79%), Soccsksargen (89%), Caraga (60%), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (77%).
The average daily attack rates in the Mindanao regions also increased from 4.09 to 6.10 in Zamboanga Peninsula, from 1.80 to 3.37 in Northern Mindanao, from 1.11 to 2 in Davao Region, from 1.32 to 2.49 in Soccsksargen, from 2.24 to 3.59 in Caraga, and from 0.72 to 1.27 in BARMM.
Aside from the Visayas and Mindanao regions, the DOH also reported a surge in cases in Mimaropa (20%) and in the Bicol Region (1%).
Meanwhile, the OCTA said Zamboanga City recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases over the past week.
This after Zamboanga City registered an average of 158 new cases, which represents only a 4 percent rise in cases from the previous week.
Nationwide, the current seven-day average of new cases is 5,834, which is 11 percent lower compared to the previous week.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday said more modular hospitals are expected to be completed next month to augment the hospital beds in Metro Manila by at least 300.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, in an interview with the ABS CBN News Channel, said additional bed capacity is sourced from the P5.2 billion spent by DPWH for the construction of 27,000-bed capacity modular hospitals and quarantine facilities nationwide.
Included in the 300-bed facilities is a 110 bed-capacity modular hospital being built at the Lung Center of the Philippines which will be completed next month.
Villar said around 25,000-bed facilities have been completed so far including the additional 200-bed facilities built in Metro Manila as of last week.
In Makati City, Mayor Abby Binay yesterday announced the conversion of the Makati Science High School into an isolation facility with the help of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
“While Makati has ample room and facilities that can be converted into isolation or quarantine facilities, it is the shortage of manpower that we find most difficult. So, when this setup was offered by Senator (Richard) Gordon, I immediately grabbed this opportunity so we can continue to increase our healthcare capacity. This 56-bed facility at the Makati Science High School dorm will greatly help our efforts in fighting COVID-19,” Binay said.
The Makati City government and the PRC signed a Memorandum of Agreement last Tuesday for the conversion of the public school in Barangay Cembo into an isolation facility.
Under the memorandum, the PRC is expected to provide the medical personnel who will be needed to monitor patients handle patient documentation. The PRC has also committed to provide additional manpower for patient care and maintenance of the facility.
The organization will also provide beds and bedding materials and supplies, hygiene kits, water, bathroom, and shower facilities; and an ambulance service to transport patients.
Binay said the facility will benefit patients, tagged as “asymptomatic spreaders,” who live in small apartments or one-room homes who worry about the health and safety of their families.
She added it will also help treat patients who are in the early stages of infection, and not wait for the symptoms to become severe and untreatable.
The Makati Science High School isolation facility is the city’s fifth quarantine facility.
To date, Makati City has recorded 22,143 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of the number, 20,490 have recovered, 648 have died, while 1,005 are still active cases.
BACLARAN FIESTA
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez yesterday ordered the conduct of an investigation into reports that mass gatherings, including children, were held in celebration of the feast of Sta. Rita de Cascia.
Olivarez’ order after several videos went viral on social media platforms showing minors playing games without face masks during a gathering of individuals celebrating the feast in Barangay Baclaran last Sunday.
The video showed the minors licking each other’s faces, while some of those who were watching were not wearing face masks and not observing social distancing.
The mayor said violators will be charged with violation of Article 151 of Revised Penal Code for disobedience to person on authority, in relation to Executive Order 35 and approved city ordinances and executive orders.
“We will check and see if there was a shortcoming among barangay officials in Baclaran, as well as law enforcers assigned in the area,” he said.
He said gatherings, such as processions, food fests and parties, can be “super spreaders” of the coronavirus.
Baclaran barangay chairman Jun Zaide said they have not received any report regarding the matter. “Barangay officials went around in the area and was informed that everyone was told that there would be no mass gatherings,” Zaide said. — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Noel Talacay
