BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - Continuing surge in cases and increasing hospital care utilization rate have prompted the Inter – agency Task Force against COVID – 19 to elevate the provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province to Alert Level 4 from January 21  until the end of this month.

The IATF also elevated Apayao from Alert level 2 to alert level 3   joining the provinces of Abra and Benguet and Baguio City   until January 31.

The Department of Health – Cordillera   January 20 data showed the region is under critical risk with a high 2 – Week Growth Rate of 2,289 percent and a high Average Daily Attack Rate of 43.43 percent (per 100,000 population).

All the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, as well as the City of Baguio are   under critical risk with each bearing a high 2WGR and high ADAR.

 73  out  of the 76 municipalities (including Tabuk City)  in the region  are either under high or critical epidemic risk level. 

In terms of Hospital Care, Cordillera is under moderate risk with 69.43 percent hospital care utilization rate but is already nearing to cross the high level mark of 70 percent.

For the HCUR per provinces/city – Kalinga is under critical level with 92 percent; Apayao (73%) and Mountain Province (80%) are under high level; Baguio City (69%) and Ifugao (61%) are under moderate HCUR, while Abra with 42% and Benguet with 55% are under low level.

As of Jan 20, there are 104,511 total COVID – 19 cases recorded in the region, where 8,914 (8.5%) are active cases, 95,597 (91.5%) recoveries and 2,322 (2.22%) deaths.

The DOH – CAR, in presenting the COVID – 19 updates at the joint Regional Task Force against COVID – 19 and the Regional Inter – Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease virtual meeting Friday, called  on local government units in the region to further intensify their PDITR (Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat and Reintegrate) strategy, and their    vaccination program coverage.

RIATF chairperson and DILG OIC Regional Director Araceli San Jose, reminded LGUs about    RTF – RIATF Joint Memo Circular No. 1 series of 2022 encouraging LGUs to enact their respective ordinances for an enhanced vaccination mandate and restriction of the mobility of unvaccinated individuals within the bounds of the law,   for the protection of   everyone.

RTF chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Albert Mogol   also reminded the need for stricter border control and the controlled movement of people especially the unvaccinated.

Mogol also called  on all members of the RTF and RIATF and the Cordillera LGUs for a continuing pro –active and whole – of – nation approach in the fight against COVID – 19, as with unity and cooperation, the region and the country will recover and heal as one. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)