(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 24 April 2024) Easterlies affecting the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies/Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from East to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


Friday, September 17, 2021

Delta variant cases spike in Caraga Region

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) - Caraga announces on Friday the detection of 39 cases positive for COVID-19 variants of concern in the region: 32 Delta Variants, three Alpha Variants, three Beta Variants, and one P.3 Variant. These results are from samples sent last August 2021 to the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). 

Based on area of distribution, Delta cases were detected in: Agusan del Norte (7) - Las Nieves-3, Carmen-1, Kitcharao-1, Nasipit-1 and Cabadbaran City-1; Agusan del Sur (8) - San Francisco-7 and Bayugan City-1; Surigao del Sur (12) - Carmen-6, Lanuza-2, Tandag City-2, Carrascal-1 and Madrid-1; Surigao del Norte (1) - Tubod-1; and four cases from Butuan City. Three Alpha cases were detected of which two are from Butuan City and one from Rosario, Agusan del Sur. Moreover, three Beta cases were from Cabadbaran City (2) and Bislig City (1). Furthermore, the lone P.3 variant case is from Butuan City. 

As to the case profile, the age range is 1-66 years old with 29 as the median age; 56% (22) are females while 44% (17) are males, and 21% ( 8 ) have known co-morbidities. Majority 56% (22) are close contacts of confirmed RT-PCR COVID-19 cases, 41% (16) have no travel history and 3% (1) is an LSI from NCR. Furthermore, 54% (21) of the cases are unvaccinated individuals. 

At present, most 87% (34) of the cases have recovered, 5% (2) still have mild symptoms, and 8% (3) cases have died. Two of the deaths were Delta variant cases and the other one was an Alpha variant case. Two of them had comorbidities, while all were unvaccinated with no history of travel, and hospitalized due to severe symptoms.

The DOH CHD-Caraga through the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) is actively coordinating with the local health authorities to continuously monitor the situation in the region. Rigorous identification and tracking of the close contacts are ongoing with the corresponding quarantine measures. 

“With the detection of more Delta and other variants of concern in the region, we will not falter in reminding everyone to take active participation in helping us end this pandemic. With or without variants, our management, and measures are still the same," DOH-CHD Caraga Regional Director Cesar Cassion said.

"The minimum health protocols may have become a routine to most of us but we still need to remind our family, friends, and everyone to strictly practice these standards such as wearing masks and face shields; washing your hands with soap and water; practicing physical distancing; avoiding crowded, confined, and closed spaces; staying at home and never go out unless necessary; boost your immune system and most importantly, get vaccinated when it’s your turn. These measures are still proven to effectively cut transmission of COVID-19 infection and all its variants,” Dir. Cassion added. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)

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