There is no definitive evidence of another surge of coronavirus infections in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the Philippines despite an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) has said.
Earlier, a study by the OCTA Research Group had suggested that NCR recorded an average of almost 1,000 cases daily while its reproduction number climbed to 1.33 from last month’s 0.66.
The situation was deemed to be serious indicating the continuous transmission of the virus.
RELATED STORY: Manila prepares as lockdowns loom due to Delta COVID-19 cases
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the government acknowledges that there is an increase in case metrics and urged people to continue adhering to the minimum health standards and get vaccinated.
Vergeire also called on the local government units to strictly implement health protocols.
The DOH Epidemiology Bureau said the NCR is still at moderate risk despite showing a “19% increase for its two-week growth rates and average daily attack rate of 6 cases per 100,000 population.”
The areas of Makati, Las Piñas, Pasay, Pasig, Taguig, Paranaque, Manila, Valenzuela, Navotas, Marikina, and Caloocan all have shown positive growth rates.
Vergeire said that nationally there was a low health care and intensive care utilization rate. He said that authorities need to continue preparations to strengthen the capacities of the local health system.
She said there was a need to ensure that there was enough capacity to deal with cases on the upward trend.
READ ON: No COVID-19 ‘surge’ yet in PH despite rising numbers of cases – DOH
Earlier the OCTA Research Group had recommended a “circuit-breaker” lockdown due to the threat of the more infectious Delta variant.
On Tuesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that there was a need for “circuit breakers” amid the local transmission and there should be a discussion by medical experts and the government’s inter-agency COVID-19 task force on it.
The Philippines has registered more than 1,562,420 COVID-19 infections so far, of which 1,478,625 have recovered and 27,318 have died. (AW)
