DOH says PH now classified as ‘high risk’ for COVID-19 amid Delta threat

A DIFFERENT BALL GAME As Metro Manila hospitals brace for the surge of COVID-19 cases, Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar checks the vaccination drive at Smart Araneta
Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday, the third day of the enhanced community quarantine. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is now back to “high risk” classification for COVID-19 amid the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country saw a 47% two-week growth rate with a high risk average daily attack rate of 7.20 cases per 100,000 population.

The country also saw an average of 8,965 COVID-19 cases per day from August 1 to August 7, which is 2,197 higher than the daily average in the previous week.

“Nationally, our case classification is now at high risk,” she said in an online media briefing.

Vergeire said the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao are considered under high risk classification, with its moderate risk two-week growth rate and high risk average daily attack rate.

Meanwhile, Central Luzon, SOCCSKSARGEN, Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region saw a positive two-week growth rate, while Western Visayas has a high risk average daily attack rate.

Only last July 29, the Philippines was elevated to the moderate risk classification after recording an increase in cases in the middle of July.

She added that local Delta variant cases have been detected in 13 out 17 regions in the country.

EDV