BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemics(CODE) Team of the National Task Force against COVID – 19 is set   to meet with  Cordillera leaders on Friday(March 11)  to  look into the present situation and other related concerns of local governments units as the country moves to the new normal.

The CODE team lead by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Vaccine Czar Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon will be meeting with the local chief executives, the Regional Task Force COVID – 19 and the Regional Inter – Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease at the Baguio Convention Center, here.

Agenda  of the meeting to be hosted  by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong include   COVID – 19 situation and vaccination rollout status in the region, Alert Level 1 protocols being implemented,   and accomplishments and present programs of the RTF.

The CODE Team will also visit a vaccination site for 5 to 11 years old children in La Trinidad, Benguet.

The IATF placed the Cordillera provinces of Abra, Apayao, Kalinga and the City of Baguio under Alert Level 1, while Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province are under alert level 2 from March 1 to 15.

Based on the March 9 DOH – CAR data, Cordillera is under minimal epidemic risk with a low 2 – week Growth Rate of negative 75 percent and low Average Daily Attack Rate of 1.25 per 100,000 population. All provinces including Baguio City have low Health System Capacity utilization both in hospital beds and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

On vaccination status, the region already fully vaccinated 73 percent of the target (80 percent of the 2022 projected population) and fully vaccinated 88% of the target senior citizens (85% of the target A2 population)

 Abra, Apayao, Kalinga and Baguio City already surpassed the 70% target for fully vaccinated population.

Still below the 70% target coverage are Mountain Province at 67%, and Benguet and Ifugao, both at 52%. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)