(FILE) A medical team collects specimens from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at a swabbing center set up at Palacio de Maynila events and exhibit center in Manila. —LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila jumped by 65 percent from last week, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday as it flagged Pateros and Malabon as under critical risk and 13 other areas under high risk for coronavirus case trend.
Dr. Alethea De Guzman, OIC-Director of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, said Metro Manila saw 1,596 average daily COVID-19 cases from July 28 to August 3, significantly higher compared to only 967 average cases from July 21 to 27; 749 cases from July 14 to 20; and 638 cases from July 7 to 13.
“Reported cases in NCR jumped to 1,596—65 percent higher than last week,” she told an online town hall session organized by Go Negosyo.
She noted that Metro Manila is seeing a “steep” rise in cases.
According to De Guzman, Makati, San Juan, Pasay, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Valenzuela, Pasig, Manila, Taguig, and Quezon City are under high risk classification for COVID-19 cases.
Only the cities of Marikina and Caloocan are under moderate risk classification in Metro Manila.
Dr. Alethea De Guzman, OIC-Director of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, says Pateros and Malabon are at critical risk for COVID-19 cases, while 13 other areas are under high risk classification. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/uaOm15VCto
— Cathrine Gonzales (@cgonzalesINQ) August 4, 2021
Metro Manila will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the strictest lockdown, from August 6 to 20 to stem the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.
Projections by the disease surveillance tool FASSSTER showed that Metro Manila could see a high of 510,268 active cases by the end of August if only general community quarantine with heightened restrictions will be imposed for the entire month, considering the presence of the Delta variant.
If the region will have a one-week GCQ and a three-week ECQ, the active cases could reach 31,928 by the end of the month. But if a four-week ECQ will be imposed, the number of active cases could only go up to 19,584.
Metro Manila currently has 14,441 active cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, based on the tracker of the DOH. Nationwide, the number of active cases is 63,137.
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