Department of Health Center for Health Development Ilocos regional Covid-19 focal person, Dr. Rheuel Bobis (PNA file photo) MALASIQUI, Pangasinan - The Department of Health Center for Health Development in Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) has recorded 23 daily average of coronavirus disease 20199 (Covid-19) cases in the region from June 26 to July 2. In an interview on Tuesday, DOH-CHD-1 Covid-19 focal person, Dr. Rheuel Bobis, said the daily cases averaged only eight in June. "This can be attributed to two factors. The decrease in compliance to the minimum public health standard and low Covid-19 vaccine booster coverage," he said. As of July 9, there are 870,635 individuals in the region who have received their booster shot out of 3.7 million fully vaccinated. The non-intensive care unit (ICU) bed utilization rate in the region as of July 10 was at 16 percent, or 239 beds utilized out of the 1,480 available non-ICU beds. The ICU bed utilization rate in the region is now at 13 percent, or 29 out of 227 ICU beds being utilized. There were three confirmed severe and critical Covid-19 admissions as of July 9. Bobis said there are 164 new Covid-19 cases from July 3 to 9. Two of these cases were severe and critical while one death was recorded. Health authorities continue to encourage the public to still wear face masks and abide by the other minimum public health standards and get booster shots. (PNA) }