PH now back at ‘low risk’ for COVID-19 after Omicron-driven surge
Updated @ 1:33 a.m., Feb. 15, 2022
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is now back to ”low risk” for COVID-19 infection after the Omicron-fueled surge it faced at the start of the year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday in the weekly taped “Talk to the People” briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Duque, the two-week COVID-19 growth rate nationwide has dropped to -74% while the average daily attack rate is already down to 5.26.
These figures reflect data COVID-19 data from Feb. 1 to 14.
“When we combine these together, it means that we have a ‘low risk’ classification,” Duque said, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino.
Health Secretary Franciso Duque III says the entire country is now under a “low risk” classification for COVID-19 infection — except for four regions under “moderate risk.” (File photo)
He added that all regions, except for four under “moderate risk,” were reclassified as “low risk.”
The four regions under moderate risk are:
- Davao
- Cordillera Administrative Region
- Western Visayas
- Soccsksargen
Duque also said that, generally, COVID-19 infections nationwide continued to decrease.
“By and large, we have been seeing good results,” he said.
Duque also said the country was classified as a low risk for hospital care utilization.
According to the latest data from the DOH, the country’s bed utilization was at 28.67%, mechanical ventilator utilization was at 18.39%, and ICU utilization was at 34.12%.
“This tells us a good thing. We are able to manage our cases and our health system’s capacity is very much prepared for any eventuality — that if we experience another surge, we are seeing an excess and we now have a low utilization rate,” Duque said.
He added that, of the 6,315 total confirmed case admissions as of Feb. 13, only 746 or 12% were severe cases and 347 or 5% were critical cases.
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