CEBU CITY, Cebu, Feb. 3 (PIA) -- In the last nine days, 19 Boholanos have succumbed to the deadly COVID-19 disease, reports from the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) bared.

According to the BIATF COVID-19 Update on Jan. 24, COVID-19 deaths have reached 587. 

On Feb. 2, the BIATF said COVID-related deaths have reached 606, which means that 19 deaths have been recorded in the last nine days, or a daily average of a little over two deaths.

Bohol Provincial Vaccination Operations Center’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) said the local vaccination program was able to reach and give full protection to 574,742 eligible Boholanos in its masterlist.

The EOC said is already 59.75% of its target of giving full protection against COVID-19 to 70% of the local population.

Health experts and epidemiologists have theorized that getting 70% or more of the local population insulates the rest of the population as this can negate the virus from getting a host.

"When you get vaccinated, there is still that chance that you can get infected. But in most cases, the patients manifest simple flu or fever, sometimes even are asymptomatic that they feel no need to go to the hospitals and health facilities," said National Task Force COVID Deputy Chair Vivencio Hizon during a press conference in Cebu on Feb. 2. 

Dizon, along with the Department of Health officials and local government leaders, launched the Resbakuna sa Botika at Klinika, an expanded vaccination program which now allows vaccination in pharmacies and clinics. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)