Spike in city’s two-week Covid growth, positivity rates reported

With the Yuletide Season in full swing, the Summer Capital continues to be under Low Risk (Level 1) status in terms of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections despite a spike in the city’s two-week growth rate from (-)2 to 44 percent in cases.

In the regular management committee meeting of local officials, Nov. 8, led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, City Health Officer Rowena Galpo said the city’s Covid-19 positivity rate for the past two weeks also jumped from 8.34 to 18.57 percent while its weekly infection rate slightly increased from 1.15 to 1.62.

She revealed that the city’s average daily attack rate during the same period increased from  3.2/100,000 to 4.6/100,000 while the average tests (RTPCR) done in the past two weeks declined from 136 to 108.

The city’s hospital critical utilization rate increased from 12.93 to 19.79 percent (75/379); while its isolation facility bed occupancy remained constant at 5.6 percent (15/267).

As of Nov. 5, this year, Omicron remains to be the dominant Covid-19 variant of concern in the city causing 70 percent of infections, Galpo disclosed.

This is followed by the Delta variant at 17 percent; Alpha, nine percent; and Beta infecting four percent of cases, she said. – Gaby B. Keith