42 Omicron cases recorded in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY – Forty-two cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been recorded in Caraga Region, the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga confirmed on Tuesday, February 16.
The province of Agusan del Sur recorded the highest number of cases, in which 30 cases were recorded in nine of its municipalities. Nine cases were recorded in the province of Surigao del Sur while three cases were recorded in Agusan del Norte.
The majority of the cases are fully vaccinated. All cases have only manifested mild to moderate symptoms during infection and, at present, have fully recovered, the press release added.
DOH-Caraga regional director Dr. Cesar Cassion said that the presence of the new variant is possibly due to the easement of community quarantine and border restrictions in the past months.
“But we are constantly monitoring our health facilities as to bed capacity, manpower augmentation, and logistics supply,” he said.
Through its Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), the Department is closely coordinating with the local government units and local health officials to monitor the variants present in their areas. The DOH has also ensured that bed capacity, medication and medical supplies, and oxygen supply are sufficient to cater the surge of cases and reorganized manpower to cater more patients.
Home care management remains operational to guide families in homes of early telltale signs of COVID-19.
“Also, our continuous efforts in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign have proven to protect the populace against the debilitating effects of this highly transmissible variant,” said Dr. Cassion.
The health official called on individuals who are yet to finish their primary vaccine series to get their shot and urged those fully vaccinated to immediately get their booster dose once eligible.
As of February 16, 2022, a total of 415 cases of COVID-19 variants have been recorded in the region, of which 48 are Alpha cases; 93 are Beta cases; 202 are Delta cases, 30 are P.3 cases; and 42 are Omicron cases. Three hundred eighty-three (383) of these cases have recovered while 32 died. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
