New COVID-19 cases may hit 20,000 per day by next week, says OCTA

PREPARING FOR SURGE Medical workers at Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital in Manila check oxygen tanks as they brace for an increase in admission due to a spike in infections in the National Capital Region after the Christmas and New Year holidays. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — New COVID-19 cases recorded per day may hit 20,000 or more by next week based on current trends of the virus in the country, a member of the independent pandemic monitor Octa Research said Wednesday.

Octa fellow Dr. Guido David said daily new cases may reach five digits on Wednesday, with about 10,000 to 11,000 cases seen to be recorded, of which 8,000 are in Metro Manila.

“We’re expecting mga 10,000 to 11,000 cases today sa buong Pilipinas, mga 8,000 sa Metro Manila,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

(We are expecting that there would be 10,000 to 11,000 new cases today in the country, 8,000 in Metro Manila.)

“By next week, most likely madadagdagan pa ‘yan, posibleng dumoble pa ‘yan, aabot tayo ng mga 20,000 plus,” David added.

(By next week, it would most likely increase, even double. We may hit 20,000 plus.)

However, this is still based on interventions the government will put in place to curb COVID-19 transmission and the public’s collective compliance in minimum public health standards.

If proper interventions are imposed, David said the increase of COVID-19 cases may peak in mid-January and will eventually decline.

“Marami pang uncertainty. Titingnan natin ang status, especially dito sa bagong Alert Level 3 [in NCR and other areas],” he said.

(There are still a lot of uncertainties. We will assess the situation, especially with the escalation of some areas to a stricter Alert Level 3.)

David said that for now, the imposition of Alert Level 3 in some areas is enough, as well as the added restrictions, especially to unvaccinated individuals and the decreased mobility.

However, he reminded that the public is ultimately responsible for the outcome of the COVID-19 situation, particularly their compliance with health protocols.

EDV