COVID-19 cases in Ilocos Norte breach 15,000 mark

LAOAG CITY — The total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ilocos Norte since the pandemic began has reached 15,145 on Sunday (Aug. 29) after 753 new cases were added to the province’s tally over the weekend, local data showed.

According to the provincial government, 11,164 of these cases have already been cleared of the disease while 193 have died.

As many as 18 towns and cities in the province are tagged as “red zones” for having at least 61 active COVID-19 cases.

Ilocos Norte’s capital city of Laoag has the highest number of active cases at 893, followed by Batac City (588), and the towns of Bacarra (274), Pasuquin (242), and Paoay (162).

The modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second most restrictive quarantine classification, in the province was extended until Sept. 7 due to the virus surge.

Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, Ilocos Norte’s average daily attack rate (ADAR) is the second highest among the provinces outside the National Capital Region at 33.40. ADAR refers to the daily cases per 100,000 population and is considered high risk if it is 7 and above.

But the province’s two-week growth rate had decreased by 22.31 percent as of Sunday, the DOH said.