According to the Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the trend of cases in some places in the Philippines has now decreased.
“Bumababa ang trend ng mga kaso sa Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, at Rizal ngunit the rest of Luzon ay nakitaan pa rin natin ng pagtaas. Ito ay Regions 1, 2, 4B, 5, CAR, at iba pang areas sa Regions 3 at 4A,” Vergeire said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Saturday (Sept. 25)
“Iyong trend [of COVID-19 cases], bagama’t nakikita natin ang unti-unting pagbaba, in the previous weeks ay bumagal ang mga kaso. In this past week, unti-unting nag-de-decline ang mga kaso,” she added.
In addition to the lowering of cases, the COVID-19 testing output in the NCR and six other regions have declined.
“Kailangang mai-report itong antigen test results at kailangang tama rin ang paggamit,” Vergeire said.
“Based on our recent analysis, almost 6,000+ that were submitted na resulta ng antigen test, when we validated these, only about 300+ were according to the purpose that it was used. Ito lang ang pwede naming isama out of these many antigen tests that were done,” she added.
Vergeire then warned against people who do not use the tests for their proper use.
“People are using this [COVID antigen testing] for screening for borders, work, certain activities, and that is not the proper use of antigen at baka magkaroon tayo ng inaccurate results,” she said.
Meanwhile, Vergeire also said that the DOH will coordinate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and National Task Force Against COVID-19 to mobilize the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and DOH regional offices for the registration process of clinics and LGUs that use COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits.
“Unti-unti na nating ipapasok itong mga positive results ng antigen tests after we validate the reports simula next week. Magkakaroon tayo ng qualifier kung ilan ang RT-PCR at antigen test doon sa mga kasong i-re-report natin sa ating public,” she said. – PG – bny
