COVID-19

Western Visayas on COVID-19 Alert Level 3; Bacolod City at Level 4

Joseph B.A. Marzan

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Western Visayas on COVID-19 Alert Level 3; Bacolod City at Level 4

BACOLOD CITY VACCINATIONS. COVID-19 vaccinations occur at a site in Bacolod City.

Bacolod City PIO

The DOH-Western Visayas says the region is at a moderate risk level for COVID-19

COVID-19 cases continued to go down in Western Visayas. The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) said on Monday, October 11, the region was now on Alert Level 3, while Bacolod City remained on Level 4.

Alert Level 3 involves Moderate or Critical COVID-19 risk class, with less than or equal to 70% of COVID-19 bed or intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, regardless of the presence of the Delta variant.

DOH-WV CHD data as of October 10 indicated that the region was a moderate risk level for COVID-19.

This was based on the 2-week growth rate (2WGR) or the percentage rate in the growth of COVID-19 case numbers, and the average daily attack rate (ADAR) or the number of new COVID-19 cases logged per 100,000 population in an area. Both are measured in 14-day periods.

For the period between September 23 and October 6, the region logged 8,712 new cases, representing a 28% decrease in its 2WGR as compared to those recorded from Sept. 9 to 22 (12,115).

2WGRs below zero percent were considered as low, while those ranging above zero up to 200% are moderate, and those above 200% are high.

This also represented a decreased ADAR in the recent period of 7.87 from the previous one of 10.95.

ADARs above 7 are considered as high, while those from 1 to 7 are moderate, and those below 1 are considered low.

The region’s COVID-19 ward bed rate is at 53.13%, with 339 out of 638 beds used, while the ICU bed rate is at 51.28%, with 139 out of 253 beds used.

Delta variant

While the count disregards the presence of the Delta variant, it is important to note that Western Visayas has had 222 cases with the said variant as of October 10.

Of these, 69 come from Iloilo province; 29 from Antique; 28 each from Aklan, Negros Occidental, and Iloilo City; 23 from Bacolod City; 9 from Capiz; and 8 from Guimaras.

The DOH-WV CHD recommends the following action points to be taken up by local authorities in areas under Alert Level 3:

  • Ramped up active case finding;
  • Finding clusters and superspreader events to explain increases in cases;
  • Securing samples from priority areas;
  • Aggressive community testing;
  • For areas with local Delta variant case (city or municipality), rapid antigen test can be  utilized;
  • Ensure all close contacts are traced, tested and quarantined;
  • Facility isolation, especially for areas with local Delta variant cases;
  • Decongest hospitals and improve triage and referral systems;
  • Promote the use of telemedicine, home care packages, step-down care facilities;
  • Target decongesting hospitals of mild and asymptomatic cases; ensuring adequacy of ICU beds in Level 2 and 3 hospitals;
  • Reprioritization of vaccine deployment and logistics and other resources needed to areas with increasing cases; and
  • Avoid using hospitals as vaccination sites in preparation for surge capacity.

– Rappler.com

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