DOH: 2,200 daily COVID-19 cases possible during Christmas season

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 2,200 daily COVID-19 cases are possible this holiday season should minimum public health standards will not be followed, said the Department of Health (DOH) Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday.

During a media forum, Vergeire was asked about the COVID-19 positivity rate during Christmas. The OIC said that the agency does not use the positivity rate as a basis for predictions since it is affected by factors such as the number of daily tests.

“Mayroon po tayong projection that by the end of December, we might have a daily average case of 2,200 cases, kung bababa ng husto ang pagpapatupad o compliance natin sa minimum public health standards.

Ang pinakamababa naman, we can have as low as 429 cases kung atin pong maipapatupad ng patuloy-tuloy ang maayos na minimum public health standards,” said Vergeire.

(We have a projection that by the end of December, we might have a daily average case of 2,200 cases should we lower the implementation or compliance of minimum public health standards. Meanwhile, the lowest, we can have as low as 429 cases if we continue to uphold the proper, minimum public health standards.)

Vergeire explained that while the agency does not use the COVID-19 positivity rate as a basis for its projection, the DOH uses other factors, such as compliance with minimum public health standards and vaccination rates in areas.

However, Vergeire reiterated that these forecasts are “not set in stone.”

Meanwhile, Octa Research Group said on Monday that the COVID-19 positivity rate has increased to 12.4 percent in Metro Manila, while noting an increase in cases in different Luzon areas.

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JPV