DOH notes 49% increase in NCR’S new COVID-19 cases

FILE PHOTO: A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19, shared with Reuters on February 18, 2020. NEXU Science Communication/via REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — The average number of new COVID-19 cases per day in Metro Manila rose by 49 percent in the recent week—a warning that coronavirus infections may again increase in the capital region, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Based on DOH data released on Monday, Metro Manila recorded an average of 115 new COVID-19 cases from December 20 to 26, which is 49 percent higher than the 77 average daily cases from December 13 to 19.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the slight increase in new coronavirus infections in the region is “hopefully” not caused by the Omicron variant, since the four detected cases of the said variant in the country all came from people abroad but they were immediately quarantined.

“Mayroon tayong nakikitang pag-uptick ng kaso pero it’s not significant enough yet but it is an alarm. It is a warning for all of us that cases might start to increase so kailangan magtulong-tulong po tayong lahat ngayon,” she said of the situation in the National Capital Region (NCR), urging the public to continue to follow health protocols and to get vaccinated.

(We are seeing an uptick in cases which is not significant enough but it is an alarm and a warning that cases might start to increase again, so we need to help each other.)

“Hopefully, it is not variant driven. Nakikita natin na ang mobility natin ngayon ay mataas compared sa previous weeks dahil sa holiday season, so we are counting two weeks prior para makita natin. So ito pong pag-uptick ng mga kaso natin started off two weeks ago, ‘yung mga exposures na ito,” she added.

(Hopefully, it is not variant-driven. We saw that the mobility has increased compared to previous weeks because of the holiday season, so we are counting two weeks prior to seeing the real picture. This uptick in cases started two weeks ago.)

The positivity rate in Metro Manila also increased from 0.70 percent from December 12 to 18 to 1.50 percent from December 19 to 25, according to DOH data.

Nationwide, the positivity rate was at 0.9 percent from December 12 to 18 and 1.30 from December 19 to 25.

Meanwhile, the country’s average number of new COVID-19 cases from December 20 to 26 was at 307, which is only two percent lower than the 312 average cases from December 13 to 19. The 312 average infections were 26 percent lower than the 422 average cases from December 6 to 12.

Nevertheless, all regions in the Philippines and the country as a whole are still considered a minimal risk for COVID-19. All island groups and the NCR Plus area maintain a “flat case trend,” said the DOH.

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