Zambo Covid cases going down

THE NUMBER of Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga has drastically decreased over the past months as the local government continues to impose strict public health measures and resorted to an aggressive mass vaccination program aimed at achieving herd immunity by the end of the year.

From nearly 3,000 active cases between September and October, Mayor Beng Climaco, the head of the local Covid-19 task force, said there are now only a few hundred infections.

She also renewed her appeal to residents to follow the health protocols by wearing their face masks when in crowded areas or public places, and to frequently sanitize or wash hands with soap and water.

Citing records from the City Health Office, the mayor said the following barangays have the highest number of Covid-19 cases: Santa Maria, Mampang, Tetuan, Pasonanca, Putik, Tumaga, Calarian, San Jose Gusu, Mercedes, San Roque, Divisoria, Cabatangan, Baliwasan, Sinunuc, Tugbungan, Culianan, Talon-Talon, Canelar, San Jose Cawa-Cawa  and Boalan.

Medical experts reminded residents not to be complacent and follow public health protocols. The Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) also reported that the number of its Covid-19 cases is also declining from more than 200 in October to under 100 now. But what worries doctors at the ZCMC is that the majority of its Covid-19 patients are unvaccinated. 

The mayor has repeatedly called on residents, particularly those under the government’s priority list, including children 12 to 17 years old, to get vaccinated as soon as the medicines are available.

Climaco said residents are now receptive to Covid-10 vaccines after the local government mounted an information campaign about the efficacy of the medicines in preventing serious respiratory disease and the spread of the virus.

The campaign also effectively targeted fake news and disinformation, including black propaganda against the government’s vaccination program. At present, the local government has administered nearly 700,000 doses of vaccines to residents. 

The local government also issued a public notice, saying people who manifest Covid-19 symptoms or who have had close contact with a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case should submit themselves for Covid-19 testing to prevent spreading the virus. 

It further explained that Covid-19 symptoms are similar to the flu symptoms and persons with the virus can have cough, colds, fever and sore throat and/or lose their sense of smell and taste. 

“Confirmed positive cases should give truthful information about their close contacts. Concealing your status, lying about your exposure to positive cases and evading Covid-19 tests (RT-PCR) for fear of lockdown and isolation could result in greater risks that might cause severe infections or even your life and that of your loved ones.” 

“No tiene miedo manda man swab cay este ay ayuda salva tu vida y el vida del dituyu familia y otros pa que accidentalmente ay man tapon contigo. Swab testing should be done 5-7 days following exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases. And if you get tested, you should self-isolate or stay away from others pending test results and follow the advice of health workers. Coopera y ayuda controla el calayat del virus para todo kita librao y protegido contra Covid,” the advisory said. (Zamboanga Post)