Several medical groups in Bicol aired, in a joint letter addressed to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), their sentiments regarding the increasing number of cases in the region.
The Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) in the region, Albay Medical Society, and Camarines Sur Medical Society called for the implementation of tighter restrictions to prevent the occurrence of a surge similar to that which happened in India.
“For the past several months, the number of COVID-19 cases in all the six provinces of the Bicol region has alarmingly and continuously been increasing, with the surge of cases worsening particularly in the last weeks of May and the first two weeks of June,” they stated.
The Department of Health (DOH) responded that the region must resort to granular lockdowns pending IATF approval of their request.
DOH data show that Naga City, Albay, and Sorsogon are among the 36 priority areas due to critical intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate.
OCTA said the list of top 20 local government units (LGUs) with the greatest number of cases includes Legazpi City and Naga City as of June 14. Legazpi City has a COVID-19 growth rate of 51% and Naga has 21%.
“Nakipag-usap na po kami sa mayors doon po, lalo na sa Legazpi area, na magtayo sila ng isolation at quarantine centers para ma-isolate agad ang positive cases nila. At ‘pag ginawa nila ‘to, bababa na ang transmission,” DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said in the June 16 Laging Handa briefing.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III also explained why the ICU occupancy in some areas are reaching full capacity.
“If you recall, we have increased the number of the ICU beds by converting many of the isolation beds. So ngayon, noong bumababa na ‘yung mga cases natin, tinitingnan ko baka naman binalik nila sa mga isolation beds para sa ibang mga non-COVID cases,” he said.
Despite the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in some areas, the DOH gave the assurance that the situation remains manageable. They have also deployed additional mechanical ventilators and healthcare workers to assist in these areas. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-jlo
