The country has been placed under low-risk classification for COVID-19 following a 9% decline in the two-week growth rate (2WGR) of cases nationwide.
Department of Health (DOH) data show that the average daily attack rate (ADAR) between June 13 and 26 was at 5.42 per 100,000 population. The country was still under moderate risk last June 23.
“Though mababa siya, ito po ‘yung sinasabi naming na manipis, ‘yung negative 1 to 2 hanggang negative 10%, it’s very prone to sudden, posibleng tataas,” DOH Epidemiology Bureau Officer-in-Charge Director Alethea de Guzman said in a media forum Thursday (July 1).
“Kailangan palakihin pa natin ‘yung pagbaba niya. Subalit dahil negative ang ating 2WGR at makikita natin ang ating ADAR ay naka-moderate risk na, the risk classification nationally is already at low risk,” de Guzman added.
The average daily case toll in the country is at 5,772 from June 24 to 30, or almost half the highest record during the surge from April 9 to 15 at 10,845. However, the current numbers are still higher than the surge last year.
“‘Yung peak natin last year, ‘di pa tayo nakakabalik doon. I used to say na let’s go for the December, January na levels. Probably it’s good to go na bumalik tayo dun sa average natin na peak natin last year, then we can go further decline from there,” de Guzman said.
Despite the development, Regions 6, 8, 11, and 12 were classified as high risk for COVID-19. Except for Region 8, the three other areas had the highest intensive care utilization (ICU) and fatalities.
Meanwhile, there is still a possibility for cases to increase in the National Capital Region (NCR) in case of superspreader events.
“Cases are still high and we don’t want the entry of these variants of concern to push our cases again to levels na ma-o-overwhelm na naman ang ating health capacity,” de Guzman said.
The physician urged the public to remain compliant with minimum health standards and to expand vaccination coverage amid the threat of the Delta variant. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG- jlo
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