The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cagayan Province has been rising, according to authorities.
As of afternoon of January 6, there are 1,346 total number of cases with 123 remaining active.
The Department of Health (DOH) said most of the cases are from local and community transmission.
The provincial government has already expressed interest to purchase vaccines due to the current situation, allocating a budget amounting to at least ₱5 million. Governor Manuel Mamba is also urging local governments in the province to allocate funding for the cause as their share “of trying to access this as much as possible and as early as possible”.
Mamba said he is ready to be inoculated first in case the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a vaccine product. In case of budget shortage in the procurement of vaccines, the provincial government assured that it is prepared to borrow money for funding.
Meanwhile, Cebu is now on red alert status for inbound passengers coming from Manila amid a recent development on the new strain of COVID-19 which has been detected in a Hong Kong resident who came from Manila. – Report from Oliver Baccay/PIA Cagayan, John Aroa/PTV Cebu
