COVID-19 pandemic: Latest situation in the Philippines – July 2021

The city government of Bacoor in Cavite extended the granular lockdowns in BF El Grande Subdivision in Barangay Molino 6 and Addas 2C in Barangay Molino until August 8 and 9, respectively.

Last July 23, Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla had ordered granular lockdowns in the two villages after the Department of Health confirmed two cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant there.

After contact tracing, mass swab testing, and isolation of close contacts and suspected cases, at least 6 out of 288 residents in Addas 2C and 9 out of 247 residents in BF El Grande Subdivision tested positive in rapid antigen tests.

According to Bacoor City Information Officer Andrianne Mark Ng, the 15 individuals need to undergo RT-PCR tests for confirmation. Once confirmed, their samples will undergo genome sequencing to check the presence of the Delta variant.

As of Monday, July 26, the city has a total of 10,985 COVID-19 cases, with 565 active cases, 368 deaths, and 10,052 recoveries. Bacoor has administered a total of 115,981 COVID-19 jabs as of Saturday, July 24.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, July 27, reported 7,186 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total caseload to 1,562,420.

The reported cases on Tuesday are the highest since June 13, when 7,302 cases were recorded. However, the DOH said the high figure was due to a technical glitch.

“The case numbers reported today are higher than usual because we had to do a 9 pm extraction, rather than a 1 pm extraction,” the agency told reporters.

“This resulted [in] higher numbers today and potentially lower figures by tomorrow,” the DOH added.

The cases reflected in daily bulletins are based on tests conducted two days before. Usually, the number of cases every Tuesday is relatively low due to non-operation of testing hubs and delays in data transmission during weekends. (READ: Why are COVID-19 cases low during the first half of every week?) 

The DOH also reported 72 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 27,318. Meanwhile, recoveries are up by 5,672, pushing the total recovered cases to 1,478,625.

Of the total cases, 56,477 are active or currently sick.

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Residents here endured long queues at the COVID-19 vaccination sites in malls as thousands flocked to get their jabs on Monday morning, July 26.

The crowd overwhelmed health personnel operating the sites, disregarding health protocols such as observance of physical distancing. Cops were later deployed to ensure the safety of everyone.

Residents queueing up at the sites complained about the disorganized system. Others claimed that some were cutting in line.

A resident who asked not to be named said she lined up for her second dose, but got confused because there were too many people and that nobody was assisting them on where to queue. It took her three hours to get her second shot.

The city government had earlier announced that only 500 people will be accommodated for the AstraZeneca and Sinovac jabs, while walk-ins for Johnson & Johnson were allowed.

By lunchtime, the COVID-19 Vaccination Council informed the residents that the vaccination centers at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Robinsons Place, and SMX Convention Center have reached their maximum number of vaccinees for the day.

“We urge the public to wait to be notified of their schedule through text by the vaccination team,” said City Administrator Em Ang, Bacolod Emergency Operations Center executive director.

Ang said that cops and mall security guards tried to disperse the crowd but they didn’t cooperate. “We tried to accommodate as many as possible, but there are so many people,” she added.

She also said that beginning Tuesday, July 27, they will not cater to walk-ins anymore and that they can avail of the free Covid-19 vaccines at their barangay vaccination centers.

Starting last week, the city government had allowed walk-in vaccination for senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, and overseas Filipino workers.

Photo courtesy of Marty Go.

Two subdivisions in Bacoor City, Cavite have been placed under lockdown by the local government after two patients tested positive for the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla said on Saturday, July 24, that Addas 2C Subdivision in Barangay Molino 2 and BF El Grande Subdivision in Barangay Molino 6 will be under lockdown from July 24 to 26.

As many as 250 families in Addas 2C and 900 families in El Grande are required to stay in their respective houses while contact tracing is conducted to locate the 2nd- and 3rd-degree contacts of the Delta-positive patients.

The Department of Health announced 55 new cases of the highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 on Sunday, July 25.

This brings the total number of Delta variant cases in the Philippines to 119.

Among these new cases, one has died while the other 54 have been tagged as recovered, said the DOH.

In addition, 37 of the new Delta cases were local, 17 were found among returning overseas Filipinos, and one is still being verified.

Read more on Rappler.

The Philippines now has 1,548,755 confirmed COVID-19 cases after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 5,479 new cases on Sunday, July 25.

The DOH reported 93 new deaths due to the coronavirus disease, bringing the death toll to 27,224, while the recoveries are up by 5,573, raising total recoveries to 1,467,269.

Of the total cases, 54,262 or 3.5% are active.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, July 25, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc announced that the province has officially recorded its first cases of the Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants of the coronavirus, with one case for each variant.

“[T]he virus is clearly not acting how it used to,” Manotoc wrote. “All hands on deck.”