Undisclosed travel history linked to rise in COVID variants in R13 By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
The sudden spike of cases of COVID-19 variants of concerns (VOCs) in Caraga Region may be linked with inbound travelers purposely concealing their travel history, the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga said. In an interview on Monday, September 27, Dr. Glee Valenzona, Medical Officer IV at the DOH-Center for Health and Development in the region said the sudden detection of VOC cases may be due to travelers refusing to disclose their travel history, especially those coming from COVID-19 ‘hotspots’ in the country such as the National Capital Region (NCR).
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Caraga Region remained the only region in the country that did not have any cases of the VOCs until September 6, 2021, when health authorities detected its first Delta case which was a 26-year-old female residing in Barobo, Surigao del Sur with a travel history in NCR. Eleven days later, cases have gone up to 39, having detected other VOCs such as the Alpha, Beta, and P.3 variants as well as local transmission of all four variants in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and the city of Butuan.
|September 25-October 1, 2021
Nearly two weeks later, on September 27, cases have nearly quadrupled, with the DOH-Caraga having recorded 149 cases. Delta cases are now at 64; Beta cases at 45; P.3 cases at 21; and Alpha cases at 19. Six deaths have also been recorded. Local health authorities are now urging the public to be more compliant with health protocols especially with the travel restrictions imposed in a certain area. “It also takes the cooperation of all Caraganons and other travelers, to be honest, to really give details and health information for us also and
Caraga INFOCUS
