DOH: No surge in COVID cases in NCR, increase seen in other regions

MANILA, Philippines — Reported cases of coronavirus in Metro Manila have yet to show indications of a holiday surge, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday, noting that an increase in infections was seen in other regions.

In a televised Palace press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Philippines’ current national reproduction rate is at 1.1, which means more than one person can be infected by COVID-19. This is “almost the same” as the National Capital Region’s (NCR) current reproduction rate, the official noted.

“Nakikita natin ngayon dito sa ating mga bagong tinatalang kaso, ang NCR ay medyo hindi sila nagbibigay ng pagtaas ng kaso, nasa ibang regions natin nakikita sa ngayon,” Vergeire said.

(In new cases we are tallying, NCR doesn’t show an increase, it is in other regions that we see an increase.)

The government is anticipating an increase in coronavirus infections due to the holiday season.

But Vergeire said although there is an increase in daily nationwide infections in recent days, it should be interpreted cautiously as there are still “intervening factors” such as the return of laboratories to normal operations after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“Iyong mga laboratories natin nag-nonormalize pa lang iyong operation so this might have an effect on the reported cases as of this time,” she said.

On Monday, the country logged 2,052 additional coronavirus infections – the first time the country reached 2,000 new cases since Dec. 18.  This pushed the country’s total infections to 489,736.

JPV