Muntinlupa’s active Covid-19 cases passed the 100 mark, prompting Mayor Ruffy Biazon to convene the city’s task force to discuss measures to stem the surge.
Based on daily data from the City Health Office (CHO), Muntinlupa added 35 new Covid-19 cases on July 4, bringing the total active cases to 121.
This is the first time since November 2021 that Muntinlupa’s daily active cases reached the three-digit level.
As of July 4, Muntinlupa had 40,414 confirmed cases, 39,675 recoveries, and 618 deaths since the pandemic started in 2020.
Biazon headed an emergency meeting July 4 together with CHO doctors and specialists, city government officials, and barangay captains.
He warned the public that Covid-19 is still a threat to public health and urged them to continue following minimum public health standards.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported on July 4 that the country tallied 7,398 new Covid-19 cases from June 27 to July 3, an increase by 60 percent compared to 4,634 new cases recorded from June 20 to 26.
Biazon ordered the city government to ramp up communication plans and be more aggressive in informing the public about the risks of contracting the virus, the benefits of vaccination, and adherence to health protocols as defense against Covid-19.
During the meeting, CHO acting chief Dr. Juancho Bunyi said the city government recorded 121 active cases as of July 4, a significant increase from 45 cases last June 27.
By barangay, Cupang has the highest number of active cases with 31, followed by Ayala Alabang with 28, Alabang with 22, Tunasan with 17, Poblacion with 12, Putatan with six, Buli with three, and Sucat with two. Bayanan is the only barangay that is Covid-19-free with zero active cases since June 29.
Muntinlupa’s average is 18 cases per day in the last two weeks, while the prevalence rate per 10,000 individuals has increased from 0.40 last June 21 to 2.2 last July 4.
Muntinlupa Contact Tracers Team head Dr. Carolyn Magalong noted that upon monitoring and surveillance, residents who turned out positive for Covid-19 said that they might have contracted the virus outside their homes.
Magalong said contact tracers recorded the top three areas of transmission: community (markets, public transportation, malls etc.), households, and workplaces.
The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) are now on red alert.
Members of BHERTs strictly monitor residents who are Covid-19-positive and are on stand by for patient transport to isolation facilities.
As of July 5, the city’s 135-bed isolation facility in Pacwood Site, Tunasan only has three admitted patients: two probable and one confirmed case.
The CHO urged residents to get their primary and booster vaccine shots as they provide protection from getting severe infection from Covid-19.
Recently, the CHO announced that those who are 12 to 17 year old can now be inoculated with their booster shots after a five-month interval from their second dose. The non-immunocompromised 12-17 years old may register and coordinate with Muntinlupa COVID-19 Vaccination Program (MunCoVac) or the CHO for the vaccination.
Booster shots for minors will be administered at the Ayala Malls South Park, Sucat Health Center, Cupang Health Center, Laguerta Health Center (every Tuesday and Thursday), and Ospital ng Muntinlupa.