DOH says general COVID-19 trend in ‘good direction’ but some areas showing increase in cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ general COVID-19 trend is in “good direction” as the Department of Health (DOH) sees a decline in the number of coronavirus cases, but it noted that some areas have recently shown a rise in the number of infections.

In an online press briefing Monday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country is currently averaging 2,400 COVID-19 cases in the past week, lower from the over 3,000 average before the reimposition of the two-week modified lockdown in the outbreak epicenter Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“Ngayon naga-average ng 2,400 cases, which is a trend for a 7-day weekly average. Pero nakakita pa rin tayo ng mga lugar na specific dito sa ating bansa na mayroong mga increase in the growth rate in the past two weeks so binabantayan nating maiigi ‘yan,” Vergeire told reporters.

“Kailangan lang hindi pa rin tayo complacent, we must remain vigilant. We are seeing improvements dito sa ating mga ginagawang response, nakikita natin ‘yung numbers medyo bumababa but still we monitor areas with clusters, (and those) with increasing growth rate,” she added.

The Health official attributed the improvements to the government’s strengthened contact-tracing efforts and the improved health systems capacity or the hospitals’ capacity.

“Nakikita natin generally ‘no, with the health systems capacity na nag improve din ang ating mga ospital they have decreased their utilization so we can see that we have this good direction sa ngayon. Maganda ang indikasyon,” Vergeire said.

The Philippines’ COVID-19 caseload reached 322,497 on Sunday, including 273,079 recoveries and 5,776 deaths. [ac]