Omicron remains dominant Covid-19 variant in Baguio – CHSO

Omicron continues to be the dominant Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variant affecting 65 percent of cases in the Summer Capital as of September 12 this year according to a local health official.      

In the regular management committee meeting of local officials led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong at City Hall, Sept. 20, City Health Services Office (CHSO) head Dr. Rowena Galpo said Delta variant affects 20 percent of cases, followed by the Alpha and Beta variants affecting 10 and five percent of infected individuals, respectively. 

As to Omicron’s subvariants, she said BA.5 is most dominant at 63 percent; B.1.1.529, 35 percent; with both BA.2.12.1 and BA 4 subvariants at one percent each.

Galpo disclosed, however, that the city continues to be at ‘low risk’, level 1 status, with a decreasing two-week positivity rate of 6.71 percent to 5.19 percent and dipping average daily attack rate of 6.5 to 2.6/100,000 as of Sept. 17 this year.

The city also experienced a negative two-week growth rate of (-)54 percent to (-)57 percent and weekly infection rate of 0.66 to 0.62 while the average tests done during the same period increased from 288 to 296.

She said that as of September 19, the city’s hospitalization critical utilization rate is 44/379 to 46/379 (10.55 to 11.64 percent) while its isolation facility bed occupancy is 24/275 to 13/275 or 6.9 to 4.72 percent. – Gaby B. Keith