By Francis Allan L. Angelo
COVID-19 cases in Iloilo City are down to low double-digit figures from Dec 1-15, 2021.
The downtrend continued even as Ilonggos went out and flocked to malls and other leisure areas for the Christmas holidays.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for the city in terms of infections so far in 2021.
January saw 331 cases or an average of 11 cases per day, while February posted 265 cases (9 cases per day). March posted 447 cases (14 daily) and April with 334 cases (11 daily).
The situation worsened in May when cases shot up to 1,648 (54 daily) then more than doubled in June with 3,135 (105 daily).
July was no better with 2,693 cases (87 a day) then escalated to 2,741 in August (88 a day).
The worst month for the city was in September with 4,061 cases (135 daily) before drastically tapering to 1,138 (37 a day).
By November, total infections were down to 194 cases (6 daily).
The first 15 days of December was even better with only 38 cases recorded so far (3 a day).
From Dec 16 to 24, the city reported 12 cases, lower against 22 cases recorded on Dec 9 to 15.
The City Hall attributed the tapering number of cases to the continuous vaccination against COVID-19, including booster shots or third dose.
Even with the detection of the highly-contagious Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, infections not only in Iloilo City but the rest of the country have been relatively low compared to early months of the pandemic which erupted in March 2020.
This week, vaccinations, including the booster shots, continue today, Dec 27, to Dec 29 in various inoculation sites.
Pfizer vaccines are available at SM City in Mandurriao and Robinsons Place in Jaro while Moderna doses are available at the Megaworld Transport hub.
Sinovac doses will be available on Dec 29 at District Health Centers.
The vaccination starts 8 a.m. until supplies last. It is open to city residents, those who work in the city, and non-residents who were vaccinated in Iloilo City.
Only persons who received their second dose not later than September 2021 can avail of the booster shots. Recipients of the single-dose Janssen dose in Iloilo City last July 2021 can get the booster jab.
