VIGAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) – The Coronavirus Disease 2019 situation in Ilocos Sur is now considered endemic, according to the Provincial Health Officer of the province Doctor Trina Tabboga-Talaga.

She announced this during the 2nd Quarter Joint Meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), and Provincial Development Council (PDC) on Monday, 27 June 2022.

According to the latest report of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) at 5:00 PM of June 27, there are five (5) active cases of Covid-19 in the province.

The PHO have recorded 21,956 cases since the on-set of the disease then categorized as pandemic.

On the same period, there were 21,584 recoveries and 367 deaths reported.

The highest number of Covid-19 cases were recorded on September 2021 increasing to 6,545 cases from 2,507 during the month of August.

However, a downward trend was seen in the succeeding months with 3,440 in October, 396 in November to 56 by the end of the year.

After the holidays, the cases rose to 3,018 in January and decreased again to hundreds in the succeeding months up to current asymptomatic, mild and moderate cases.

Meanwhile, the province has administered a total of 1,294,951 doses including additional doses for adults 18 to 59 years old with controlled comorbidities or A3, and booster doses and second booster doses for the immunocompromised.

Among these are 566,406 fully vaccinated individuals or 85.05 percent of the population, whereas 181,668 or 36.18 percent has been inoculated with their booster or additional doses.

The Provincial Health Office continues to monitor cases, and provide technical assistance and information dissemination campaign.

Dr. Talaga said isolation facilities are still on standby and maintained, newly-hired personnel still undergo capacity building and training, and Covid-19 Vaccination strategies are strengthened.

“Our aim now is to manage the disease to a point that affected individuals can isolate in their own homes,” stated Dr. Talaga.

She said the PHO sustains its strict measures against Covid-19 to avoid the resurgence of severe to critical cases. (JCR, ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)