The Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD) through its Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), yesterday, April 13. presented to the Bicol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) and local chief executives of this region an update on the levels of risk for COVID-19 of municipalities and cities.
The report was based on the March 29 to April 11, 2021 data which showed that Bicol Region is a Moderate Risk for COVID-19.
The assessment came after the release of data that most number of individuals who are infected were those with no history of travel. This group was followed by their close contacts, those with a history of travel, front liners or responders and health care providers.
The level of risk to COVID 19 in the region among provinces Albay,. Camarines Sur and Sorsogon are classified as moderate risk while Masbate is under Minimal risk while Catanduanes and Camarines Norte are low-risk provinces.
Municipalities and cities are likewise categorized as to their level of risk. Data for the province of Albay showed one (1) area is categorized as High and five (5) areas as a moderate risk; Camarines Norte has one (1) area categorized as moderate risk; Camarines Sur has eight (8) areas categorized as High with 17 areas as moderate risk; Catanduanes has one (1) area categorized as a moderate risk; Sorsogon has five (5) areas as high risk and three (3) as moderate risk areas. The province of Masbate has no areas under high or moderate risk categories.
With the new assessment DOH Bicol CHD recommends appropriate intervention for strict implementation and compliance by areas of concerns according to their category. All local government units (LGUs) are enjoined to respond to their local situation by enforcing appropriate interventions based on the level of risk categorization. They are required to enhance case finding and contact tracing and urged to identify individuals suspected to contribute to the rising cases of COVID-19 in their area and institute appropriate measures.
With the spike it was recommended that Granular lockdowns of areas with notable clustering of cases is recommended while the activation of the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities should be enhanced as quarantine measures to exposed individuals isolation for mild and moderate confirmed cases.
The DOH Bicol CHD reminded the public that vaccination only serves as additional protection against COVID-19 and does not give full protection against COVID-19. It only gives protection to severe and critical forms of the covid virus.
In addition, the public is informed that vaccination does not give us full protection from getting infected with COVID-19 infection. Any vaccine will only give protection against the severe and critical forms of COVID-19 infection. The BIDA+ Solusyon remains to be the best or gold standard to protect a person from getting the disease according to DOH Bicol CHD.