City sees steady decline in Covid cases for the past three weeks

City Health Services Office (CHSO) head Dr. Rowena Galpo said the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the Summer Capital have been steadily declining for the past three weeks.

During the management committee meeting of city officials at City Hall led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, August 31, she said the welcome decrease can be attributed to the strict adherence to minimum public health standards by residents and visitors including the city’s ramped-up vaccination campaign.

The health protocols include wearing a face mask, frequent washing of hands with water and soap or alcohol, practicing physical distancing, and having a healthy lifestyle.

She agreed, however, with an earlier statement of the Mayor that Covid-19 infections in the city are expected to increase in the coming weeks due to the onset of face-to-face classes.

Galpo disclosed that as of August 30, the city is still at ‘low risk’ status in terms of Covid active cases with a positivity rate of 13.9 percent for the past two weeks; average daily attack rate of 10.1/100,000; and two-week growth rate of -31 percent (768 to 532).

The city also has a weekly infection rate of 0.76; hospital critical utilization rate of 12.66 percent (48/379); isolation facility bed occupancy of 12 percent (33/275); and 330 average tests done in the past two weeks, she said. – Gaby B. Keith