DOH: Region 4-B records slight increase in COVID-19 cases

(FILE) FIRST IN LINE Dr. Melecio Dy, medical chief of Ospital Ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, is the first resident of Palawan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday. —ROMAR MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Region 4-B has exhibited a slight increase in COVID-19 cases in the past week as other regions in Luzon show a “general decline” in infections, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

“Lahat ng rehiyon [sa Luzon] ay pababa na liban lamang sa 4-B. Pagkatapos bumaba ay medyo tumaas ang dami ng mga narereport na kaso nitong nakaraang linggo,” Dr. Alethea De Guzman, OIC-Director of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, said in an online town hall session.

(All regions in Luzon are showing a decrease in cases except for Region 4-B. After a decline, it is showing a slight increase in cases reported in the last week.)

Region 4-B otherwise known as Mimaropa, covers the provinces of Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

Based on data presented by De Guzman, Region 4-B has a total of 979 active cases as of Tuesday. The region posted a negative 22 percent growth in cases in the previous three to four weeks, compared to the previous five to six weeks.

De Guzman said the region’s growth rate slid to a negative six percent growth in the recent one to two weeks, as compared to the previous three to four weeks.

However, the risk classification for Region 4B is still low, with an average daily attack rate of 3.97 per 100,000 population from June 13 to 26.

The region’s healthcare utilization rate as of Monday is 58.75 percent, while its ICU utilization is 46.81 percent.

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases continue to decline but the cases are still higher than last year’s peak. The country is reporting an average of 5,749 daily new cases from June 23 to 29. During the peak from April 9 to 5, the country was reporting an average of 10,845 new daily cases.

Meanwhile, in the Visayas, De Guzman said COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas are now plateauing after showing a sharp decline. Cases in Eastern Visayas are still on the rise, while cases in Western Visayas are showing a continuous decrease in cases.

In Mindanao, Davao Region is still showing an increase in cases while all other regions are exhibiting a downward trend in cases.

Metro Manila is still at low-risk classification as its case trend exhibits a slow decline. However, Davao Region, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Eastern Visayas are at high risk as cases in the Visayas and Mindanao regions have peaked in June with signs of decline over the past week.

The country has so far recorded a total of 1.4 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, composed of 50,037 active cases, 1.3 million recoveries, and 24,557 deaths. There were additional 4,479 new infections logged on Tuesday.

/MUF