More contact tracers to be deployed as COVID-19 cases increase in Bontoc —mayor

Bontoc, Mountain Province Mayor Franklin Odsey on Sunday said more contract tracers will be deployed in his municipality as the number of COVID-19 cases keeps increasing.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Odsey said that as of Saturday, the local government has recorded 341 total COVID-19 cases with 90 recoveries and 249 active cases.

“It is progressing and increasing kaya darating additional contact tracers sent by DOH-CAR at dadating ngayong araw  na magko-conduct ng community testing 'yata ang purpose nila,” he said.

Department of Health - Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) director Dr. Ruby Constantino said that 12 COVID-19 cases with the UK variant of coronavirus have been detected in Bontoc.

According to Odsey, these patients are properly managed.

Constantino said the surge of COVID-19 cases in Mountain Province was due to the complacency of residents.

“Kaya nagkaroon ng surge ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa Mountain Province dahil sa naging kampante ang ilan at hindi nakasunod sa health protocols,” she said in a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Some barangays in Bontoc were also placed under lockdown.

According to a “24 Oras Weekend” report by Rida Reyes, the lockdown was extended by two weeks due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

"Ang binabantayan natin na 'di tumaas ang mga healthcare utilization rate, which is 'yung COVID beds natin ay hindi po mapuno. If we will reach the high risk po, then we will be recommending that the entire region ay pwedeng ma-escalate to GCQ, “ Constantino said. —KG/BM, GMA News