DOH monitors rising number of COVID-19 cases in Baguio

HEALTH ALERT Baguio’s health and security protocols in containing the spread of COVID-19 have been lauded by other local governments but the summer capital has seen a surge in infections lately with the easing of restrictions in people’s movement. —EV ESPIRITU

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines —The Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring the surging coronavirus cases here that could be a result of aggressive testing and contact tracing in the last two weeks, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

In a virtual briefing on Monday, Vergeire said the positivity rate in the city during the period was 13.5 percent, which, she noted, was “high” compared to the World Health Organization benchmark of 5 percent or less.

A positivity rate reflects the number of confirmed infections in a group of people tested for the virus.

Coordination

Vergeire said the rise was noticeable when screening of people at the city’s borders was relaxed.

Baguio has allowed tourists from Luzon to revive its economy, but it restricted its borders with Benguet province when cases spiked in the neighboring towns.

On Dec. 1, the city government reopened its tourist-drawing night market but had to shut it again due to “lapses in crowd control.” The market reopening coincided with the ceremonial lighting of a giant Christmas tree on upper Session Road here that attracted a crowd of 1,500 people.

The crowd at both events had ignored the physical distancing protocol for which Mayor Benjamin Magalong had apologized.

Vergeire said the DOH had coordinated with city officials to determine the implications of surging cases and to help curb virus transmission.

BUSY In this photo taken in November, Session Road in Baguio City is busy as residents, wearing masks and face shields, go out for work and errands. —EV ESPIRITU

The city posted 41 new cases, including three deaths, on Dec. 5, and 59 cases, including one death, on Dec. 6, according to the city information office.

A team from the University of the Philippines Baguio has been helping in data analysis to track down the behavior of the virus in the city. It has compiled maps and graphs detailing where infections have been concentrated.

The team reported that 2,102 (66.4 percent) of the 3,220 cases since March had no travel history, suggesting that most of them were spread in the community. It also said 2,071 cases (64.3 percent) were detected through contact tracing as of Dec. 6.Baguio experienced an increase in cases in September and October due to outbreaks at its slaughterhouse and a housing facility for police trainees that accounted for the 3,220 cases.

Isabela market lockdown

In Santiago City, Isabela province, the new public market was placed on lockdown after 32 vendors were tested positive for the virus. Most of them did not show symptoms of the disease, according to Mayor Joseph Tan.A “calibrated” lockdown was also imposed on some sections of the city to contain the spread of the virus. The city epidemiology and surveillance unit has started contact tracing and swab testing. As of Tuesday, the province had posted 313 active cases.

—With a report fromVillamor Visaya Jr.