Over 1,000 COVID-19 weekly cases logged in Ilocos region

Covid-19 vaccine. File Photo

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The number of weekly COVID-19 cases logged between August 7 and 13 in the Ilocos region has breached the 1,000 mark, data from the regional Department of Health (DOH) showed on Monday.

But none of the 1,002 new COVID-19 cases were tagged as severe or critical.

The figure reflects an increase in the average daily cases to 143, which is 8.4-percent higher than the 132 reported between July 13 and Aug. 6.

From Aug. 6 to 13, the DOH also verified at least 15 deaths from the virus in the region.

Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of the regional DOH, told the Inquirer that the rise in the number of cases in the region was due to low COVID-19 booster coverage.

Booster vaccination coverage in the region remained low, with only 26.65 percent, or 1,005,530, of the over 3.7 million fully vaccinated people receiving their shots.

Bobis also noted the detection of the Omicron subvariants in the region and the leniency in following minimum public health standards that contributed to the rising number of infections. INQ

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