Taguig posted the third highest number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country on Dec. 31, according to a research group.
Dr. Guido David of OCTA Research posted online the local government units (LGUs) with the highest new COVID-19 cases for Dec. 31.
According to David, Taguig had 112 new cases on Dec. 31 to place third in the country after Manila with 571 and Quezon City with 366.
On Dec. 31, the Department of Health, the University of the Philippines’ Philippine Genome Center and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health reported the detection of three local cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant in the country.
Based on the 48 samples sequenced on Dec. 31, 10 Omicron variant cases were detected consisting of seven imported cases and three local cases.
The seven imported cases consisted of six returning overseas Filipinos and one Malaysian national who arrived from the US, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Ghana. The husband of the fourth Omicron case which was previously announced is among the seven, the DOH said.
The three local cases consisted of a 41-year-old male from Metro Manila who tested positive on Dec. 3. The second is a 27-year-old female from the Bicol Region who tested positive on Dec. 14. The third case is a 46-year-old female from the Bicol Region who tested positive on Dec. 15. All cases have been declared as recovered.
The DOH previously reported four Omicron variant cases in the country.
Meanwhile, the Taguig City government warned that a surge in COVID-19 cases is possible due to the Omicron variant.
“It is spreading faster than other variants and is quickly becoming the dominant strain. To avoid the possible surge this coming celebration of the year 2022, the City Government reminds everyone to be cautious and vigilant in following health and safety protocols,” the city government said.
It added, “Let us all have a sense of responsibility to take care of ourselves and others. Get vaccinated, keep your masks on at all times, isolate when needed, and get tested. The local government of Taguig will continue to manage cases, prepare and capacitate our hospitals, strictly enforce protocols to avoid lockdowns, and safely bring back livelihoods.”
Based on its own tally, as of Dec. 30, the Taguig City government recorded 19 new COVID-19 cases to bring the total active cases to 28 out of 52,547 confirmed cases, 52,078 recoveries and 441 deaths.