CEBU CITY – For the past week, Dumaguete City recorded the highest growth rate of new COVID-19 infections in the entire country.
Figures from OCTA Research group showed that from May 31 to June 6, Dumaguete tallied a 206 percent growth rate, much higher than Koronadal City’s 96 percent—the second-highest infection rate.
Dumaguete’s average daily attack rate (ADAR) was at 30.57 and ICU rate at 94 percent.
The research group listed Dumaguete as an “area of concern” after its infection growth rate grew higher than those of bigger cities such as Bacolod City, Cagayan de Oro and Davao Cities in Mindanao, and even Parañaque and Pasay Cities in Metro Manila.
As of June 7, the Provincial Health Office, Dumaguete had 416 active COVID-19 cases.
Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, who is himself afflicted with COVID, has reassured his constituents that operations of the city government continue despite his absence.
His statement, posted on the Facebook page of the city government, came as some city residents expressed concern over his health condition.
“I would like to clarify that the functions of the city government of Dumaguete and the delivery of basic services continue under my direction and supervision through the City Administrator, Atty. Doram Dumalagan, department heads, Chief-of-Staff of the Office of the Mayor, Executive Assistant for Security Concerns, heads of offices, and the City Inter-Agency Task Force (For the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases)," he said in the social media post.
He denied rumors that some staff at the Office of the Mayor also tested positive for COVID-19.
Remollo also mentioned the ongoing massive swab testing of direct contacts of positive cases, the vaccination for senior citizens, and deployment of health marshals to ensure that health protocols are being enforced and implemented in the city. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)