COVID-19 test_positive. STOCK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines could see daily tally of COVID-19 cases decrease to as low as 83 by March 15 if current minimum public health standards are strictly followed, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.
According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, this assessment was based on latest projections that considered the characteristics of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, mobility of population, vaccination coverage, and compliance with minimum public health standards.
“Kung mapapanatili natin ang current minimum public health standards natin, ang bilang ng mga kaso sa bansa ay maaaring bumaba pa to as low as 83 cases lang pagsapit ng March 15,” she said in a Palace briefing.
(If we are able to maintain compliance with minimum public health standards, the number of daily COVID-19 cases in the country could drop to as low as 83 cases by March 15.)
Vergeire, however, clarified that the number of cases is seen to rise once compliance with health protocols wanes.
About 2,077 cases per day are projected if compliance with health protocols decreases by 12% and this number could soar to as many as 7,748 per day if compliance will be down to 19%.
“Kung ninanais natin na manatiling mababa ang mga kaso dito sa ating bansa, inaanyayahan natin ang bawat Pilipino na mag mask, hugas, iwas airflow, bakuna upang makita natin hanggang sa dulo ang pagbaba ng kaso ng COVID-19,” Vergeire appealed.
(If we want to maintain the low number of COVID-19 cases in the country, we are calling on every Filipino to wear masks, wash their hands, practice social distancing, and get vaccinated.)
The Philippines has been reverted to a low-risk classification for COVID-19 transmission following the Omicron-fueled surge seen at the beginning of the year.
Vergeire said the country’s average daily COVID-19 cases this week dropped by 56% from last week.
READ: ‘Controlled COVID-19 transmission’ in Metro Manila expected by March 1 — OCTA
Independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research earlier said Metro Manila is expected to achieve the “controlled transmission” of COVID-19 by March 1.