DOH notes COVID-19 cases on ‘positive growth’ in majority of PH, but still low risk’

FILE PHOTO: Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (greenish brown) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (pink), also known as novel coronavirus, isolated from a patient sample. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH/Handout via REUTERS.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it observed “positive growth” in COVID-19 cases in 70 percent of provinces, cities, and municipalities nationwide but that the country remains at “low risk” classification.

“As of latest data, despite 70 percent of provinces, [highly urbanized cities], and [independent component cities] across all island groups showing a positive growth in cases, it is important to note that the Philippines remains at low-risk case classification,” the DOH said in a statement.

It added that severe and critical cases remain at less than 1.5 percent of total hospital admissions across the country despite the entry of Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.2.12.1.

READ: DOH detects Omicron BA.4 subvariant in PH

Independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research previously said the new subvariants could cause another surge in COVID-19 cases once they enter the country, but it would not be as high as the cases recorded in January due to the Omicron variant.

The DOH also said that so far, there is no community transmission of Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.2.12.1.

“The DOH has only declared local transmission of these variants as of the current date,” it stressed.

READ: PH detects local transmission of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1

“More confirmed cases with no linkages are needed in order to declare community transmission of the aforementioned variants,” it also explained.

As of Wednesday, the Philippines has confirmed 3,690,707 cases of COVID-19, including 2,320 current active cases, 3,627,932 recovered patients, and 60,455 fatalities, based on the DOH tracker.

KGA