DOH: 4 Mindanao regions still high risk for COVID-19 transmission

(Image from Google Maps)

MANILA, Philippines — Four regions in Mindanao are still classified as high risk for COVID-19 transmission, even as the country in general is still tagged as moderate risk, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the regions under high risk status for case transmission are Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, and Soccsksargen.

Vergeire said the DOH is monitoring the situation in these regions, especially their healthcare utilization rate.

“Patuloy ang Kagawaran sa pagpapabuti ng mga local governments’ access [to healthcare] at home care services na magsisilbing tulong upang hindi mapuno ang ating mga hospital. Regular na sinusuri ng DOH ang mga hospital at makakaasang pupunan ang mga pangangailangan nito,” she said in an online media briefing.

(The Department is continuing to improve the local government’s access [to healthcare] and home care services to prevent hospitals from reaching full capacity.  The DOH is regularly monitoring the hospitals and they can expect that we will meet their needs.)

Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas, Bicol region, Mimaropa, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are currently classified as low risk for COVID-19.

The rest of the regions are tagged moderate risk.

Vergeire noted that daily positive cases in the country are showing a “slow decline,” but added that infections in some regions outside Metro Manila are still high.

She also said that from the peak of hospital admissions on January 22, the total bed utilization rate in the country has declined by 15 percent and is classified as low risk at 37 percent.

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