Active COVID-19 cases in Soccsksargen breach 3,000 mark

KORONADAL CITY  — Another 218 individuals in Soccsksargen or Region 12 tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), taking the total of the active cases to over 3,000 across the region, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday (July 14), the active cases in the region stood at 3,086, with South Cotabato on top of the list at 1,251 cases, Cotabato with 588, General Santos City with 581, Sarangani with 490 and Sultan Kudarat with 176, the Region 12 COVID-19 tracker stated.

The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region rose to 24,329, of which 20,462 or 84.11 percent have recovered while 777 (3.19 percent) resulted in deaths, it added.

At least 11 persons in the region were recorded dead on Wednesday due to COVID-related illnesses, five senior citizens.

General Santos City posted the highest new and recovered COVID-19 cases on Wednesday at 56 and 64, respectively.

Arjohn Gangoso, DOH-12 health education and promotion officer, urged the public anew to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by enlisting with their barangay health units.

The COVID-19 vaccination in Region 12 so far covered those in the A1 (health frontliners), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (individuals with co-morbidities) priority lists.

He also called on the public to always observe the minimum health protocols such as wearing face masks and face shields, physical distancing and frequent hand sanitation using soaps or alcohol to help fight the spread of COVID-19.