ILOILO City – Total coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) casualties in Western Visayas reached 2,027 as of Aug. 5.
The region likewise posted a 2.31 case fatality rate (CFR) on the same date, slightly higher than its CFR recorded on Aug. 4 at 2.29 percent, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.
However, the region’s latest CFR was higher compared to that of the national rate with 1.76 percent.
“Slightly higher sia kay naga-anticipate kita gani sang surge kon magsige-sige ang pagtaas sang aton cases,” according to Dr. Daphynie Teorima, spokesperson of DOH Region 6.
CFR, according to the World Health Organization, is the proportion of individuals diagnosed with a disease who die from that disease and is therefore a measure of severity among detected cases.
Here’s the breakdown of the areas in the region with their corresponding CFRs (as of Aug. 5):
* Capiz – 3.76 percent or 209 deaths out of 5,558 total confirmed cases
* Antique – 3.18 percent or 116 deaths out of 3,647 total confirmed cases
* Iloilo – 2.69 percent or 464 deaths out of 17,282 total confirmed cases
* Iloilo City – 2.67 percent or 375 deaths out of 14,050 total confirmed cases
* Guimaras – 2.41 percent or 31 deaths out of 1,284 total confirmed cases
* Bacolod City – 2.33 percent or 363 deaths out of 15,598 total confirmed cases
* Negros Occidental – 1.75 percent or 373 deaths out of 21,267 total confirmed cases
* Aklan – 1.03 percent or 95 deaths out of 9,227 total confirmed cases
What pushes the figures up?
According to Teorima, one factor could be the rapid transmission due to the presence of various variants of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
She also cited that, “Basi kulang man ang aton (hospital) equipment para maka-support sa aton nga COVID cases.”
DOH-6 has thus advised local government units to continue enforcing the minimum public standards down to the barangay level.
“We have to be stricter sa aton pag-implement kay wala ta kabalo kon ano gid man kay lain-lain nga variants na ang na-introduce sa aton region. Although wala proof sang community transmission, ara sila sa iban nga localities. So we really have to be more vigilant sa pagprotekta sa aton lawas kag komunidad,” said Teorima.
SARS-CoV-2 variants including the more contagious Delta, the Alpha, Beta, and Theta have been detected in the region./PN
