The DOH-13 case bulletin as of Thursday evening, Sept. 10, 2020.
BUTUAN CITY – The Caraga region has registered 30 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections as of Thursday evening, raising its active cases to 274.
In a case bulletin late Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) 13 (Caraga) reported that the new cases put the region's total number of infections to 705 since March when the pandemic was declared.
Since then, the region has recorded 413 recoveries and 18 deaths.
“Of the total number of new Covid-19 cases, 28 were recorded in Butuan City, one in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, and one in Cabadbaran City,” the DOH-13 said.
Ten of the new cases are considered local transmissions, eight were close contacts of confirmed local transmission cases, 10 are health workers, one is a non-medical front-liner, and one is a locally-stranded individual.
“In the new cases, the youngest case is two years old while the oldest is 60, with 23 females and seven males,” it said, adding that at least 25 of the new cases are considered asymptomatic while five were showing mild symptoms and they have been admitted to different health facilities.
Zonal containment
As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in this city, health officials are recommending the implementation of a zonal containment strategy to help control local transmissions.
Members of the Regional Task Force against Covid-19 One Caraga Shield (RTF-COCS), together with Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada, convened on Thursday to finalize the implementation of the proposed granular lockdown, particularly in areas with a high incidence of Covid-19.
The RTF-COCS and the city government have already identified 10 barangays with the highest numbers of active cases, among them Libertad, Villa Kanangga, Limaha, Doongan, San Vicente, Ambago, Holy Redeemer, and Fort Poyohon.
“The city government of Butuan is now procuring around 30,000 testing kits for Covid-19 that is expected to last until December,” Lagnada told the members of RTF-COCS during the meeting.
He said the city government is also eyeing the testing kits produced by the University of the Philippines.
Preparations are underway to fully implement the zonal containment strategy in Butuan as Lagnada sought the residents’ full cooperation.
"This health crisis requires a community-wide effort. The government cannot put an end to this crisis alone. I am urging you to do your part," he said, addressing residents. (PNA)
