From just four cases in May 2022, the number of new coronavirus cases detected in the province of Catanduanes has jumped to 25 this June and 108 as of July 29, the Provincial Health Office reported.
The four-fold increase in the new COVID-19 cases brought the number of active cases to more than 30, with majority of them quarantined in either their homes or government isolation facilities.
Virac and Bato towns account for the biggest share of active cases at 12 each, followed by San Andres with seven, Baras with four and Gigmoto with three.
No new deaths have been reported so far in this latest surge of cases, with the tally of fatalities stuck at 132.
A total of 3,333 persons in the island province has now been infected by the coronavirus.
Just last week, the Department of Health launched a revitalized COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign, dubbed as “PINASLAKAS”, covering the new administration’s vaccination targets for its first 100 days.
During the period, the Marcos Jr. administration aims to vaccinate 90% of senior citizens by October 8, 2022 and provide booster vaccination among 50% of the population.
Vaccination drives will be brought to most frequented areas such as malls, markets, terminals, plazas, places of worship, schools, and workplaces.
As the campaign requires a revitalized whole-of-systems, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach, partner agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) signed a pledge committing their continuous support for COVID-19 vaccination.
Through the revamped vaccination campaign for COVID-19, the Bicol CHD calls on the public to complete their primary doses and their boosters for them to be able to remove mask requirements, live and work free from worry of alert level restrictions, resume learning in schools and working more safely, and avoid the expense associated with COVID-19 hospitalization and its complications.
According to data from the DOH regional office, Catanduanes has vaccinated 109.4% of its target population of 187,975, with just one of its 11 municipalities performing below par.
While Caramoran logged 95.3% coverage of its target population, the other 10 towns exceeded their vaccination targets: Bagamanoc, 113.6%; Baras, 120.1%; Bato, 111.2%; Gigmoto, 117.0%; Pandan, 108.4%; Panganiban, 129.4%; San Andres, 104.1%; San Miguel, 114.0%; Viga, 117.5%; and, Virac, 108.2%.
The same data showed that while the majority of the 11 towns exceeded their vaccination targets among the 60-and-above, 18-59 years old, 12-17 years old, and 5-11 years old age groups, Caramoran managed to administer the jabs to just 75.6% of its senior citizens and 57.8% of its 5-11 year-old children.
Among the other 10 towns, only San Andres has an accomplishment of less than 100%, jabbing only 74/7% of its 5-11 years-old children.
Overall, however, the island province has reached more than 100% in three of the four age groups, with 89.19% in the 5-11 year-old group.