ilocos norte
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—Health authorities in Ilocos Norte province have noted a sudden spike in its average weekly COVID-19 cases in the first 14 days of January.
Data from the provincial government showed that from Jan. 7 to 14, the average number of COVID-19 cases logged was 102.3 compared to 18.1 in the previous week.
The active COVID-19 cases as of Monday in the province stood at 1,045, with 53 new recoveries and zero deaths on the same day.
Laoag and Batac cities and Bangui and Bacarra towns were classified as “red zones” due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in these areas, the provincial government said.
On Jan. 16, the Department of Health confirmed that a returning overseas Filipino from the U.S., who went back to the province last Jan. 4, had the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, although he was tagged as “recovered.”
Still, contact tracing was done up to the third generation of exposure to the returning resident, said Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of the regional DOH.
At a press briefing on Monday, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc said the confirmation of the Omicron variant case should not be a “cause for alarm” as he reminded the public to adhere strictly to standard health protocols and get vaccinated.
In Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, at least 48 health care workers were isolated as of Jan. 17, after contracting the disease.
The hospital reported treating 46 positive COVID-19 patients who exhibited moderate, severe, or critical symptoms.
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