PH’s new COVID-19 cases rise by 20%; 10 regions at high risk

Patients wait at the triage or screening area of the Tarlac Provincial Hospital to undergo testing for COVID-19 before getting admitted for treatment. (Photo courtesy of Tarlac provincial government)

MANILA, Philippines — New COVID-19 cases in the country have increased by 20 percent in the previous week as 10 regions, including Metro Manila, are now under a high-risk classification for COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

The country recorded an average of 15,537 new COVID-19 cases per day from August 19 to 25, which is 20 percent higher than the 12,897 average cases from August 12 to 20, and 57 percent higher than the 9,837 cases from August 5 to 11.

“In the next days and weeks, we’ll probably see additional peaks… As we haven’t yet felt the full effect of our ECQ, there is really a probability that we will still see additional cases,” Dr. Alethea De Guzman, OIC-Director of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, told an online media briefing.

With the detection of more Delta variant cases, the DOH earlier warned that COVID-19 cases may continue to increase in the coming weeks despite the hard lockdown in Metro Manila and other areas.

High-risk areas

The country remains at high-risk classification for COVID-19, according to DOH data. Per region, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Visayas, Ilocos Region, Davao Region, and Western Visayas are also under high risk. The remaining regions are all under moderate risk classification.

According to De Guzman, unlike the surge in cases in April that was centered in the NCR Plus, the ongoing increase in infections involves the entire Luzon and select regions in Visayas and Mindanao. She said that areas in Luzon are showing a “steep increase.”

Meanwhile, Metro Manila continues its upward trend with new cases increasing by 16 percent in the previous week. All localities in the region remain at high risk.

DOH data showed that Metro Maila recorded an average of 4,105 new daily cases from August 19 to 25, compared to the 3,533 average cases from August 12 to 18, and 2,513 cases from August 5 to 11.

Hospital bed utilization

The national hospital bed utilization is still at moderate risk at 64.40 percent, while intensive care utilization remains at high risk at 72.98 percent.

Hospital bed utilization was high risk in Calabarzon (76.62 percent), Central Luzon (73.07 percent), and Cagayan Valley (73.39 percent), according to DOH.

The ICU utilization, on the other hand, is at high risk in Metro Manila (73.61 percent), Calabarzon (82.52 percent), Central Luzon (86.98 percent), Cagayan Valley (87.06 percent), Northern Mindanao (79.87 percent), CAR (81.63 percent), Central Visayas (76.52 percent), Soccsksargen (70.34 percent), Caraga (70.18 percent), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (80 percent).

The Philippines currently has 125,378 active COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday. The country logged 18,332 additional cases on Monday—the highest ever single-day increase since the onset of the pandemic.

/MUF