(FILE) IMMUNITY BOOSTER A boy gets vaccinated at Cainta Elementary School Auditorium in Cainta, Rizal, amid calls for an academic break as more and more households in Metro Manila get infected with COVID-19. —LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Metro Manila have been downgraded to “high risk” classification from “critical risk” for COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.
The two-week growth rate of the country has dropped to moderate risk the average daily attack rate (ADAR) of the country is still high at 25.46, he said in a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte.
Health care utilization rate across the country, meanwhile, is at moderate risk.
In Metro Manila, the two week growth rate went down from 7,225% to 65% but its ADAR is at 85.46%.
Duque said that while Metro Manila and nearby provinces, which is collectively known as as NCR Plus, are showing a decline in cases while the rest of Luzon are plateauing.
The Philippines was placed in critical risk classification on January 11 with the drastic spike of COVID-19 cases in the country.