By Christine Fabro
Based on the latest data on two-week growth rate and average daily attack rate, the Philippines is now classified as a low risk area for COVID-19, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In a Laging Handa public briefing on Saturday (June 3), DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire clarified that the national picture shows an improvement in its COVID-19 cases, but some regions continue to record an increase in cases.
“The national picture will show us that nasa low risk tayo based on the two-week growth rate and the average daily attack rate, pero kapag tiningnan natin ang bawat rehiyon sa ating bansa, makikita natin na may mga rehiyon talaga ngayon na may mga pagtaas ng kaso,” she said.
Vergeire reminded the public not to be complacent and that the low risk classification shall not be ‘advertised’.
The spokesperson explained that the recent classification reflects on how the government is being able to manage the surge in COVID-19 cases in the past months.
Although cases are declining, Vergeire said that the decline is at a slow pace.
As of July 3, a total of 13 regions are placed under monitoring due to the surge of COVID-19 cases.
This includes the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region (I), Cagayan Valley (II), Calabarzon (IV-A), Western Visayas (VI), Central Visayas (VII), and Eastern Visayas (VIII).
Also included in the list are Zamboanga Peninsula (IX), Northern Mindanao (X), Davao Region (XI), Soccsksargen (XII), Caraga (XIII), and BARMM.
As of July 3, 2021, the DOH reported 5,908 new cases, bringing the total confirmed to 1,430,419 with 53,665 active cases.
DOH also announced 7,698 new recoveries, totaling to 1,351,691. Meanwhile, 90 more have died, raising the death toll to 25,063. -rir
