The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of COVID-19 cases in the country could reach its peak by the end of January.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire even warned of a higher number of COVID-19 infections than what was seen during the Delta variant surge in 2021.
“Tinitingnan natin na itong Omicron variant, mukang 8 to 10 times more transmissible than Delta variant. Tinitingnan natin na kung magtutuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas ng kaso, maaari tayong makakita ng peak nitong mga number of cases by the end of January,” she said.
“Just for information also, bukas, makakapagtala tayo ng 10,000 mahigit na mga kaso, base doon sa tinitingnan nating mga laboratory submissions,” she added.
The OCTA Research has expressed support for the projections in conjunction with what they are seeing in other countries like South Africa, where cases are starting to drop significantly after one month.
The group added that the current spike in cases is similar to the surge seen last March.
“It will be mostly sa NCR [National Capital Region]. ‘Yung peak natin sa NCR noong Delta surge was 9,000, it’s going to be easily surpassed. You know, 10,000 or more, even up to 15,000 or 20,000 cases sa NCR pa lang ‘yun,” OCTA’s Dr. Guido David said.
Based on the OCTA report, the positivity rate in the NCR increased to a new record high of 34.7%, which is higher than the previous high of 29.6% recorded on April 2, 2021.
“According to our experts, in order for us to be able to achieve the ideal na 5% or less na positivity rate, kailangan ang samples na nate-test natin sa isang araw, mga 90 to 100,000, at malayo pa tayo dyan,” Vergeire said.
“Although noong nag-Delta tayo, tumaas ‘yan, umabot na tayo sa 70 [thousand] to 80,000 per day, at ngayon nira-ramp up natin ulit ang pagte-test natin,” she added.
Meanwhile, the OCTA Research said the hospital bed occupancy in the NCR increased to 29% from 17% in a span of seven days. The intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy also increased from 21% to 29%.
According to Dr. Jose Rene De Grano of the Private Hospitals Association, the number of COVID-19 patients being admitted in hospitals in the NCR is also on the rise.
“Nag-shift na sila. Noong bumagsak kasi ang cases natin, nag-close sila ng kanilang COVID areas. But now, nag-start na ulit sila na mag-open at least 20% of their allocated beds, so they are anticipating na baka medyo tumaas pa ulit,” he said.
Due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) announced that it will close its outpatient services starting Jan. 7 until further notice.
Read more: Outpatient services ng NKTI, pansamantalang isasara simula sa Jan. 7
The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) also recorded over 160 patients, up from just 30 cases on Christmas Day. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
Watch the full report here:
