From being “high risk,” the state of COVID-19 in the country has dropped to “moderate risk,” based on data from the Department of Health (DOH).
This is after the 2 -week growth rate or the number of people getting sick in the past two weeks has plunged to -4 percent.
Bed utilization in the Philippines is also at “moderate risk,” but the intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate remains “high risk.”
More than 2,000 were reduced from the average COVID-19 cases per day this past week compared to September 13 to 19.
According to the DOH, the National Capital Region (NCR) has seen a significant decrease in the number of those falling ill. The region’s growth rate is also at -13 percent.
In Pasay City, there is a slight decrease in active cases or those who are still sick. From 855 on Friday, it’s 835 now.
Makati’s data also continued to decline, which can be seen due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ.
Calabarzon and Central Luzon are also “moderate risk,” but the regions’ bed and ICU utilization rates are still at “high risk.”
According to Dr. Alethea de Guzman, the DOH Epidemiology Bureau director, the department remains cautious in interpreting the data.
DOH data shows Philippines has ‘moderate risk’ of COVID-19
“Over the past month we’ve seen our growth rates slowing down. Kaya lang nagiging maingat tayo. Hindi tayo tumitingin sa 1 o 2 metrics,” said De Guzman.
The data may be low due to the decrease in the COVID-19 testing output of the laboratories.
According to DOH data, it appears that in all regions, the number of samples tested this past week was lower compared to the previous seven days.
The country’s testing output has dropped by 10 percent, something the DOH continues to investigate.
To date, only those who test positive for RT-PCR are included in the DOH-reported number of cases per day.
Although there has been a slight decrease in the country’s overall data, not all regions are improving.
“Sa CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region), Baguio, Region 5 (Bicol), Davao region, Region 4B (Mimaropa), may mga nakikitang spikes na kung titignan natin ay importanteng mabigyan ng pansin,” said Prof. Jomar Rabajante of University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team.
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