Covid case surge due to clustering

September 14, 2020 Community Billboard

The Department of Health reiterates its call for cooperation and discipline of everyone in adhering to the minimum health standards and safety measures, and to quarantine and isolation protocols to prevent local transmission and clustering of Coronavirus Disease (COVID – 19).
Karen Lonogan of the DOH – Cordillera Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, in the Sept. 9 virtual joint coordination meeting of the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Regional Task Force COVID – 19, affirmed that clustering of cases was monitored among uniformed personnel, from the economic sector, households and work stations in community setting and home quarantine/isolation.
For the DOH – CAR critical findings, Lonogan shared that the unregulated movement of Authorized Personnel Outside of Residence. non – observance of minimum health standards and infection prevention and control protocols such as mass gatherings (including crowded lodging arrangements), religious events, birthday parties and similar celebrations, drinking spree; wearing of mask and social distancing are the main causes of case clustering.
Local transmissions were also noted on people including APORs who undermined symptoms and did not go for medical check-up or did not adhere to infection prevention and control protocols by continuing to report to work to moving freely around instead of staying home.
DOH – CAR also now strongly discourages home isolation or quarantine especially for mild confirmed cases and asymptomatic patients as it imposes danger to family or household members as noted in some local transmission and clustering cases recorded, Lonogan added.
For COVID – 19 updates, DOH – CAR Assistant Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan reported that as of September 8, there are a total of 876 confirmed cases in the region wherein 150 (17.12) are active, 714 (81.51%) recoveries and 12 (1.37 %) death.
Pangilinan also reported Critical Care Utilization Rate in CAR is still at medium risk, with 30.81 percent (110 of 357 occupied) utilization of isolation beds, 27.9% (12 of 43) on ICU beds, 1.81% (29 of 160) utilization of ward beds and 6.6% on use of mechanical ventilators.
Pangilinan reiterated that even with the high recovery rate and good infection control and management statistics in the region, it is important that everyone should cooperate and make the minimum health standards and infection control and prevention protocols as part of their daily life to minimize local transmission.
JDP/CCD-PIA CAR