The presence of the highly contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variants, lax observance of the minimum health standards, and increased interaction of people due to more relaxed restrictions led to the increased risk of transmission in Western Visayas, a Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 health official said yesterday.
The region has a total of 2,031 active cases as of July 21, as reported by the DOH-6.
“Yesterday (July 21), we have 177 new cases for a total of 2,031 active cases. We have recorded 91 recoveries and zero deaths,” said Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, head of the DOH-6 Infectious Disease Section.
Most of the cases or 93.60 percent have mild symptoms or asymptomatic, she added.
She said the region’s daily average cases already reached 133, higher when compared with the 33 cases per day in June, and an average of eight cases per day in May.
However, the health care utilization rate remains low risk at 35.89 percent.
“The presence of our sub-variants, particularly our BA.5, which is highly contagious when compared with our original Omicron variant; our declined compliance to minimum health standards, especially on the correct and consistent use of face masks; and the opening up of economy in Level 1 areas leading to increased interaction of people, increased the risk of transmission,” she said.
A total of 318 more cases of three of COVID-19 Omicron subvariants BA.5, BA.4 and BA.2.12.1 were detected in Western Visayas.
DOH officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said of the 816 new cases of BA.5 logged in the country from July 13 to 18, 309 cases were from the region.
Thus, Natalaray said they always emphasize the need to get inoculated as protection against the highly-transmissible variants and booster doses for the eligible population if they already have received their primary series.
The second booster is already available for senior citizens, adults with comorbidities, and health workers. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
