Bohol has bagged another award related to its Coronavirus disease (Covid) management and response.

The Operation Center (OpCen) of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) under the leadership of Gov. Arthur Yap was cited by the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7 as the Best Functional Operations Center in Central Visayas (CV).

The DOH said that the OpCen Bohol has shown exemplary efforts and contribution to health issues and disaster risk reduction and management.

It can be recalled that the OpCen has been fully operating since the time when Bohol’s active cases surged to as high as 2300 in September this year. The OpCen is manned by personnel from national agencies and staff from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), DOH and the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH).

The OpCen is also responsible for updating all data being displayed in the eoc.bohol.gov.ph website, which can be accessed by everyone when there is a need to check the number of active cases per town. The website also shows the hospital utilization rates and bed capacity all over the province.

Yap thanked all partner agencies that made OpCen Bohol as the best in the region.

During his weekly press conference, on Dec. 10, 2021, the governor said, “Malipayon usab natong itaho sa katawhan nga laing pasidungog na usab ang nasakmit sa kagamhanang Probinsyal. Ang pasidungog nga atong nakuha usa lamang sa mga indikasyon sa atong dedikasyon nga makahatag ug de kalidad nga serbisyo sa katawhang Bol-anon. Daghang salamat DOH sa inyong pasidungog. Kadaugan kini sa katawhang Bol-anon. Ug labaw sa tanan, mapasalamaton ta sa atong mga partner agencies sa pagtubag sa emerhensiya sa Covid-19.”

Aside from the OpCen Bohol, the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital (GMPH) in Talibon also bagged awards from the DOH. The GMPH emerged as the Top Local Government Unit (LGU) Hospital for being active in risk management.

The said hospital also garnered citations for being Outstanding in Risk Reduction in Emergencies and Disaster, Best Hospital Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM-H) Team, Best Hospital Practices and a runner-up award for Best DRRM-H Plan in the region.

The GMPH is owned and operated by the Provincial Government of Bohol.

COVID ACTIVE CASES DROPS FURTHER

The number of active cases in Bohol has dropped to its lowest level in 8 months.

As of yesterday, Dec. 11, 2021, Bohol had only 24 active cases. The OpCen also reported 19,311 recoveries while number of fatalities rose to 580.

Bohol hospitals are also out of the critical level. Many Covid beds are now vacant. In fact, Bohol is categorized by national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) to be under Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 4. 

However, Yap reminded the Boholanos not to be complacent despite the big decline in number of cases.

He said, “Dili ta angayan nga mokumpyansa. Kinahanglan mangandam gihapon ta kung simbako mobalik ug saka ang atong mga kaso. Usa sa atong pagpangandam mao ang paspas nga pagbakuna sa atong lalawigan ug pag-establish sa atong mga TTMF [Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities] sa mga kalungsuran. Timan-an nato naa nasad bag-ong variant, ang Omicron. Apan dakong tabang nga mapanalipdan ta batok niini pinaagi sa pagpabakuna.”

According to the governor, the dramatic drop in active cases can be attributed to the province’s effort for a speedy vaccination rollout.

The governor reported the gains of the vaccination program.

He quipped, “Atong itaho sa katawhan nga aduna na kitay nadawat nga 1,090,782 ka mga doses sa bakuna. Nakapamakuna na kita ug 556,507 alang sa first dose, 382,492 nga nakahuman sa second dose ug laing 2,425 alang sa booster shots. Adunay 939,241 ka mga jabs o doses ang atong na-administer as of Dec. 9, 2021. 40% sa atong target nga 961, 872 ang fully vaccinated, samtang 58 % ang partially vaccinated.”