The Department of Health (DOH) has identified the origin of the sixth case of the South African variant of COVID-19 in the country.
“May anim tayo na mga kaso na nagpositibo para sa South African variant, dalawa roon ay mga returning overseas Filipinos at apat ay mga local cases na galing sa Pasay (Two of the six South African variant cases are returning overseas Filipinos and four are local cases from Pasay),” Dr. Alethea De Guzman of the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau said.
The DOH is considering Pasay City as under critical risk due to the spike of COVID-19 cases with a two-week growth rate (2WGR) of 386 percent and average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 24.7 per 100,000 population.
At least 91 percent of barangays in Pasay are affected by COVID-19. However, its healthcare utilization rate remains within the safe zone amid an over 55-percent NCR-wide increase in the past two weeks.
An increase of cases was also recorded in Central Visayas and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
“After the first week of January, medyo dahan-dahan bumaba at nag-plateau. Subalit nitong nakaraang linggo, nakakita nga po tayo ng pagtaas ng mga narereport nating kaso (After the first week of January, there was a gradual decline and the curve plateaued. But an increase in the number of reported cases was seen last week),” De Guzman reported.
The local government of Pasay is now considering the implementation of a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) but has reservations.
“Gusto ko rin po talaga ‘yun gawin kaya lang…dahil ang Pasay is very strategic ang location at mawawalan talaga ng transportation at ‘yung aming airport ay maapektuhan (I want to do that but since Pasay is a very strategic location, transportation and the airport will be affected),” Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano admitted.
A total of 77 barangays and 210 households have been placed under localized lockdown until March 5.
Meanwhile, the additional 5,000 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines promised by the DOH have arrived in the city. More than 300 barangay health workers, police personnel, and BHERT were vaccinated. – Report from Louisa Erispe
