OCTA Research flags Laoag City as ‘very high risk’ for COVID-19 infections

Laoag City, the capital of Ilocos Norte. (Photo courtesy of Laoag City government)

LAOAG CITY — This capital city of Ilocos Norte was tagged by independent research group OCTA as one of the local government units (LGUs) in the country with “very high” coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rates.

In its monitoring report released on Sunday, the OCTA Research Group noted Laoag City has a “very high” infection rate at 2.07 percent, followed by Mariveles at 1.83 percent, Lapu-Lapu City at 1.62 percent, and Cebu City at 1.40 percent.

The group also noted Laoag City’s “very high” incidence rate or average daily attack rate at 40.03 cases per 100,000 population.

OCTA also noted that the average daily cases in Laoag City almost doubled from 46 on July 11 to July 17 compared to 25 cases from the previous week.

The research group, however, observed a low intensive care utilization rate in the city.

It is in Laoag City where Ilocos Norte’s highest number of active COVID-19 cases were reported at 533 as of July 17, according to the data from the provincial government.

/MUF