By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, June 23, that the COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region rose to 5.2% from the 3.2% in the previous week.
The health department said that the positivity rates from other regions have increased, including Region 4B (Mimaropa) and Region 6 (Western Visayas) that follow close behind at 4.9% and 4.3%, respectively.
The DOH said positivity rates, which are “affected by the number of tests done,” should not be the “only basis” for assessing the country’s current situation with COVID-19.
“Our protocol for testing is risk-based, meaning we conduct fewer tests that are directed towards more likely positive cases. This gives us a higher positivity rate.”
The DOH added that there are available COVID-19 vaccines and health protocols that are being strictly implemented in the country to prevent an uptick of COVID-19 cases.
“This gives us a higher positivity rate. We now have vaccines and a better understanding of health protocols that work. Most COVID-19 cases nowadays are mild or even asymptomatic, even if the positivity rate is high,” it said.
“It is important to consider the overall picture of transmission and case severity, which is what the Alert Level System does,” it added. – ag
