Kalinga shifts to GCQ, public reminded 'not the time to relax'

Tabuk City, Kalinga – As the province of Kalinga shifted from Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) on November 1, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward Tandingan reminded the public not to be complacent as the virus is still present.

During the radio program of the Office of the Governor, Dr. Tandingan disclosed the dropping of COVID-19 cases in the last week of October as compared to September cases.

Subsequently, the bed occupancy rate also lowered. Hospitals and infirmaries, he said, have available beds of 20.7% which means 1 out of the 5 beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients are occupied.

“Kayat na saoen diay, han a marigatan unay ti health facilities tayo a mang-accommodate kadagitoy patients a COVID. Haanen nga at risk a ma-overwhelmed dagiay facilities tayo,” Dr. Tandingan explained.

These developments, the health officer said, are the result of the joint effort such as the implementation of granular lockdown, public cooperation, and vaccination campaign.

However, he reiterated that the easing of protocols with the new classification of the province is not a ground for the community to put their guard down.

“Dakkel ti binmassitan na ket mayat diay ngem uray nu kasdiay, iunay-unay tayo a han daytoy a rason nga ag-relax tayo. Masapul nga itultuloy tayo ladta diay minimum public health standard. I-avoid tayo diay social gathering,” appealed the health officer.

Dr. Tandingan made emphasis on regular hand washing, wearing of face mask, avoiding social gathering, and subjecting to vaccination.

“Uray limukay ti classification, ikabil tayo ti panunut tayo nga adda laeng dita ni COVID nga agur uray isu nga han tayo nga ilukay ti vigilance. Masapul a nga itultuloy tayo ti protocols,” he reiterated.

Kalinga has an active case of 203 as of November 2, 2021.

Pasil, Pinukpuk, and Tanudan are currently with low epidemic risk levels, while the rest of the municipalities in the province are at moderate epidemic risk level.

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