Quezon City map
MANILA, Philippines — Weekly COVID-19 cases in Quezon City have shown “a significant increase” of around 23 percent compared to last week, Dr. Rolly Cruz, head of the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He said 1,057 cases were recorded between May 8 and 14, compared to only 810 cases between May 1 and 7.
Thus, last week’s positivity rate has also risen to 29.9 percent from the previous rate of 26.2 percent.
Despite this, Cruz said the hospital admissions in the city remain low at 35 percent.
In a bid to mitigate the spread of the virus, he is calling on the residents of the city to self-report if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or if they have come into close contact with individuals who have tested positive.
“We highly encourage our people to continue reporting cases so we can effectively reach out to them and provide necessary assistance. This collaborative effort will help us mitigate the spread of the virus and further reduce the number of cases,” Cruz said.
Cruz also encouraged the public “to make informed decisions regarding face masks.”
“While the current national policy allows voluntary usage of face masks in indoor and outdoor spaces, we continue to advise the public to wear masks, especially in crowded areas where the risk of virus transmission is high,” he said.
Cruz also advised individuals who are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, or runny nose to immediately isolate themselves for a period of five days and refrain from leaving their homes.
He also urged them to contact the city’s contact tracing team to avail of free COVID-19 testing.
To report COVID-19-related concerns, residents can reach out through Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit’s official Facebook page and these contact tracing hotlines: 8703-2759, 8703-4398, 0999-229-0751, 0908-639-8086, and 0931-095-7737.