The Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) has recorded 12 COVID-19-related deaths in Baguio and two other areas in the Cordillera since January 1.

Starting New Year’s Day until January 8, it was only on January 3 that no death was recorded. 

The most deaths occurred on January 2 when Baguio recorded two and another in Ifugao. Two deaths in Baguio were also recorded on New Year’s Day and on January 5. On January 4, there was one death each in Baguio and Benguet. 

Five of the fatalities were females. Most of the dead had comorbidities, including pneumonia and kidney failure.

Baguio has recorded 74 coronavirus-related deaths since March last year, prompting Mayor Benjamin Magalong to ask public and private medical practitioners, and health experts in the city to address the spate of COVID-19-related deaths.

In the Management Committee (MANCOM) meeting on January 4, the mayor tasked city health services officer Dr Rowena Galpo to confer with private and public medical officers, along with the DOH-CAR, to find ways to prevent more fatalities directly or indirectly caused by the virus.

He said that the more than 40% increase in the number of COVID-19-related deaths in less than a month is alarming, and that health authorities need to hold a focus group discussion to find solutions to stem the tide.

Galpo reported that from the 48 reported deaths in the city as of December 14, 2020, the number of virus-related deaths increased to 71 as of January 5, 2021 – or an average of one death a day in the past 3 weeks. This raises the city’s COVID-19 mortality rate to 1.77%.

She said most of the recent fatalities were either declared dead on arrival or brought in too late to hospitals. They were mostly senior citizens with pre-existing illnesses, the most common of which were hypertension and diabetes.

“We cannot just leave it at that. We have to do something.  Let’s set a roadmap on how to address the death incidence and let’s arrest it,” the mayor said.

The city’s community quarantine guidelines prohibit the elderly aged 65 and above and those with comorbidities from going out of their homes to prevent them from being exposed to the elements and eventually contracting and transmitting the virus, except for essential purposes.

“Our utmost concern now is to protect the vulnerable, and they are our elderly and persons with underlying conditions, so everyone must adhere to the health standards and see to it that they do not bring the virus to their homes and to their loved ones who are vulnerable,” Galpo said.

She also advised those living with the elderly and the ailing persons to have their relatives seek immediate consultation early, or upon the first sign or symptom.

Galpo noted most families avoid medical consultations due to fear of contracting the virus at the health facilities or of hospital confinement –which would mean not being able to take care of their loved ones.

She said this apprehension was unfounded, as hospitals and clinics have established adequate health and safety protocols and protected facilities against the virus, and hospitals have manpower that can attend to the patients’ needs. – Rappler.com