ILOILO City – Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in Western Visayas slowed down to an average of 51 cases daily this March.
This is significantly lower than the daily average of 350 cases in February and 828 daily cases in January, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.
The drop could be attributed to vaccination, according to Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, DOH Region 6 spokesperson.
The slowdown in infections is also reflected in the drop in the region’s healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) – 24.44 percent down.
According to Te, this resulted to Western Visayas being classified as a “low risk” region.
Another good news: “Most cases are asymptomatic. Wala na masyado severe and critical cases because nagpabakuna ang mga tawo,” said Te.
The region currently has 2,652 active COVID-19 cases (as of March 27 DOH-6 data). Also, 90.57 percent of these active cases are mild and asymptomatic while 9.43 percent are either moderate, severe or critical.
Despite these improving pandemic figures, Te reminded Western Visayans not to get complacent and still continue to observe the minimum public health standards especially the wearing of facemask, physical distancing and proper washing of hands or disinfection.
Te also urged persons no yet vaccinated against COVID-19 to have themselves inoculated, and those already fully vaccinated to get booster shots.
With only three provinces (Iloilo, Antique and Negros Occidental) on Alert Level 2, Region 6 is generally classified as under Alert Level 1 with a daily attack rate (ADAR) per 100,000 population of 0.51 percent; two-week growth rate of -38 percent and 24.44 percent HCUR.
The region has so far able to fully vaccinate 74.24 percent of its target population and 74.94 percent of its target A2 (senior citizens) population.
Antique and Negros Occidental are the only areas in the region with a low vaccination accomplishment among senior citizens.
Antique was only able to vaccinate 51.99 percent of its A2 target population while Negros Occidental vaccinated 57.02 percent of its elderly.
The two provinces along with Iloilo province have also the lowest accomplishment in the region in terms of full vaccinating its target population.
Antique has so far fully vaccinated 60.38 percent of its target population while Negros Occidental and Iloilo have vaccinated 60.08 percent and 67.70 percent, respectively of their target population./PN
