COVID-19 infections in Calabarzon spiked after neighboring region Metro Manila transitioned to general community quarantine, the chief of Department of Health (DOH) Region 4A said Wednesday.
DOH Calabarzon Director Eduardo Janairo said cases increased more significantly in Cavite and Laguna, Sandra Aguinaldo reported in “24 Oras.”
“I would consider the whole of Calabarzon as high risk. However, within Calabarzon, ang kailangang bantayan namin is Cavite and Laguna kasi’ yan ‘yung entry ng marami when it comes to the industries,” he said.
(However, within Calabarzon, we need to monitor Cavite and Laguna because many go there when it comes to industries.)
“In Rizal, parang nagkakaroon na tayo ng medyo [we are having] calming down of the cases,” he added.
In Cavite, coronavirus cases rose by 23 overnight to a total of 626 on June 30, while Laguna recorded a total of 776 cases as of the same date. Rizal, meanwhile, logged 10 new cases overnight between June 29 and 30.
“Inside and outside travel ng ating mga workers, even tao, talagang magkakalat talaga ng sakit ‘yan,” Janairo said.
(Our workers here travel inside and outside, even people, they would spread the virus.)
Also read: Finance chief: Place Metro Manila, CALABARZON under MGCQ soon
Infections in Calabarzon rose after Metro Manila shifted to GCQ
“Ang importante lang ngayon sa akin, huwag magkamatayan. Even ‘yung pag-uwi-uwi ng bahay niyan o ‘yung pagsakay-sakay, malaki ang epekto niyan doon sa transmission ng disease,” he added.
(For me, what’s important is to prevent deaths. Even our daily commute to and from our houses has a significant effect on the disease’s transmission.)
Janairo added that the increased testing capacity of the region may have driven the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Earlier, experts said Rizal and Leyte are high-risk areas for COVID-19 transmission.
Meanwhile, the provincial government said it is prepared to respond to an increase in new cases.
“Nakapag-set up po tayo ng mga isolation facilities. We have eight hospitals, government hospitals… nakahanda po kami just in case talagang magkaroon po ng surge,” Rizal Vice Governor Reynaldo San Juan Jr. said.
(We already set-up our isolation facilities. We have eight government hospitals. We are also ready if there would be a surge of cases.)
“Twenty to 30 percent lang po ang occupancy rate ng ating mga cases, mga cases ng COVID sa mga hospitals natin,” he added.