The Davao region recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began on Wednesday.
According to the regional Department of Health, the number of increased cases reached 1,428, and nearly 5,000 active COVID-19 cases.
Most of the new cases came from Davao City, which is 1,197.
In an interview with TeleRadyo, Davao City Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser this is the highest number of new cases in the city.
She said the Southern Philippines Medical Center is overwhelmed, so they are already in contact with private hospitals for COVID-19 patients.
“All the rest of other private hospitals here in Davao, we are reactivating, we are working on reactivating the bed capacity of the hospitals,” said Schlosser.
“Admittedly, madami rin talagang na-i-infect na frontliners, particularly sa COVID-admitting hospitals. That’s very unfortunate but we are trying our best to compensate for that po,” she added.
Davao City was again placed in “high-risk status” due to its high 2-week growth rate and average daily attack rate.
Schlosser also said the city’s positivity rate hit 40.48 percent on Thursday.
Davao region hits record-high daily COVID cases
The positivity rate is the number of positives on COVID-19 compared to those who test. The World Health Organization’s benchmark is 5 percent to say that the COVID situation of an area is under control.
According to the regional DOH, they also detected five new cases of omicron variants in the region, but all of them have been recovered.
Meanwhile, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy announced he was positive for COVID-19.
“Thank God, I am well and good. I’m only experiencing mild cough and colds,” he said in his Facebook post.
He said Uy would be isolated for 7 to 10 days, depending on the doctor’s recommendation, but he made sure to continue working.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has already recorded deaths due to the more contagious omicron variant of COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.
According to the DOH, two people have died infected with the omicron variant, both aged 60 and over, who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and have other diseases.
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