In the past week, more than 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) or more than 500 average cases per day.
In a report Monday by the department, DOH said the Philippines recorded 3,572 new cases of COVID-19 from March 14 to 20, down 13 percent compared to the previous week.
Although there are still areas in the Philippines under Alert Level 2, their COVID-19 risk classification is even lower than low risk.
“Mayroon lang tayong binabantayan na mga areas na mayroong pagtaas nang kaunti. Halimbawa, sa isang area, 3 dati ang kaso, naging 4. Pero hindi naman nakaapekto sa average daily attack rate nila. So ibig sabihin, manageable pa po,”explained Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Although the country will relax those who want to visit, the DOH insisted that people should not worry because there are still measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Although the case is “minimal risk” and the hospital utilization rate is low, the possibility of another increase or surge is still not ruled out.
“There’s always a possibility na mag-spike tayo ulit kasi ang COVID naman maraming surprises na napakita sa atin. Ngunit important na gamitin pa rin natin ‘yong mga tools na alam nating gumagana para masugpo ang COVID-19, kasama dito ‘yong ating vaccination,” said Dr. Edsel Salvana, member of DOH technical advisory group.
COVID-19 average daily cases just over 500: DOH
Based on DOH data, up to 73 percent of the target population has been vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), instead of COVID-19 vaccination days, the implementation of special vaccination days is being studied to focus on areas that are far from their vaccination targets.
He said the focus should be on the Bangsamoro region, where only 26 percent of the target population has been vaccinated, more than one year since the government’s vaccination program was launched.
More than 65 million Filipinos have already completed the primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine.
But according to NVOC Chairperson Myrna Cabotaje, the target of 70 million fully vaccinated Filipinos may not be reached in the first quarter or the first three months of 2022.
According to Salvana, there are some indications that COVID-19 is becoming “endemic.”
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