Filipinos use their smartphones while queueing for free vaccination against COVID-19 at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines, July 21, 2021. (REUTERS/file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — All regions in the country remain under low to minimal risk for COVID-19 as the number of new cases continues to decline, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.
Dr. Althea de Guzman of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau said regions under low risk case classification are Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, Zamboanga Peninsula and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan).
All other regions are under minimal risk, she added.
She also said that all regions have utilization rates of less than 50% of hospital / intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients.
The Philippines has also maintained a negative two-week growth rate and a low average daily attack rate.
De Guzman said the recorded two-week growth rate is -45% while ADAR is at 1.02 per 100,000 population.
“Kapag ang ADAR bumababa to under one, from a low risk classification, tayo ay bababa rin to a minimum risk classification,” he said.
The low risk classification over the whole country is coupled with “equally low risk” COVID-19 hospital utilization rate where 21.85% of total beds are occupied while 26.57% of ICU beds are occupied, De Guzman said.
The Philippines reverted to low risk classification in October due to a decline in COVID-19 cases.