Region CAR might revert to GCQ status; Health Care Utilization Rate almost at “danger zone”

Baguio, Philippines – The Task Force on UK Variant might consider recommending to the National Inter-Agency Task Force putting the entire Cordillera Region to General Community Quarantine status of from Modified General Community Quarantine.

During the virtual conference today, January 23,2021, DOH Regional Director Ruby Constatino said the possibility of recommending such action is highly likely if the health care utilization in the region increases.

“If ever the health care utilization rate will continue to increase, then they might recommend to the IATF the changing of our quarantine status of the entire region from MGCQ to GCQ,” Constantino said.

According to her, the latest data of the agency showed the HCUR in Cordillera is almost under ‘danger zone’ as facilities are almost fully occupied.

“We are almost in danger zone because our facilities are almost fully occupied so that’s the danger so we have to really move our asymptomatic patients, our probable suspect in Bontoc General Hospital move out to the TTMF, hopefully we will be able to have this hotels be identified through our Oplan Kalinga, so that our HCUR will decrease so that we will not be changing our quarantine status,” said Constantino.

As for Contact tracing czar and Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, he said the local government of Baguio is willing to lend a hand to LGU Bontoc especially in terms of using analytical tools for contact tracing purposes.

“Meron naman kaming regional task force na willing and always ready to provide them assistance in the same manner na kami naman dito sa Baguio, we’re just waiting for a call from them them although we sent word to them that we are willing to help them, set up their system, yung mga analytical tools na pwede nilang gamiti sa contact tracing,” Magalong said.

Magalong also recommended to LGU Bontoc “to make an assesment on their capability and capacity to manage Covd-19 situation especially now that they have their UK Variant and at the same time, work closely with the Department of Health at yung ating RTF.”

Cordillera region recorded 13 Covid-19 cases which tested positive of the UK variant this week, 12 of which came from Bontoc, Mountain Province and 1 coming from La Trinidad Benguet.