The announcement of DoH 12 that there are 3 new confirmed cases in Region 12 only proves the inevitable of COVID eventually catching up with every corner in the country.
A cursory look at the DoH data yesterday revealed that Zamboanga has replaced Davao City as Mindanao’s new COVID infection flashpoint.
Barely a month ago, on Apr 20, the number of confirmed COVID patients in Region 9, which includes Zamboanga, was only 11.
As of yesterday, the Zamboanga peninsula region already has 130, next only to Davao region’s 199.
Somebody has yet to explain why the sudden and very quick rise.
But with the cases of COVID infection now increasing in 2 regions in mainland Mindanao, it won’t be long before the inevitable also reaches our region.
More than anything else, the measures we adopted only delayed it.
I would rather that the city govenrment study the case of Cebu City.
While the number of COVID infection in Cebu remains very high, the mortality rate is remarkably very low.
It is too early to tell about Cebu City’s success because while only 15 (1%) of the 1,544 cases resulted into deaths, only 24 or 2% have so far recovered, way below our national average of 20%.
The explanation given was that government and health officials conducted aggressive testings (7 tests per single COVID case). The figure however is still low compared to NCR-CL-Calabarzon which ratio is 12 per single case of COVID infection.
Given the volatility of the COVID spread, it pays if local and health officials in Region 12 now shift their focus from one that is prevention to that of containment.
How to contain the further spread of the virus.
It is understandable for other provinces in the region to be still be very wary of the situation. Not all of them have the health services and facilities to address a massive infection.
But studies and litetrature now suggests that early detection help in the quick recovery of COVID patients.
In addition to preparing and reinforcing health facilities and equipment, LGUs must now invest in more human resources – even on a fix-term and renewable job order basis.
Doctors, nurses and barangay health workers, the last of which are indispensible in early detection and public scoping.
The time for paradigm shift may well be the calling of the moment.
