By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau on Thursday (Oct. 28) encouraged the public to keep following health protocols despite the downward trend in cases, hospital utilization rates, and fatalities.
“Ang nakikita natin ay bumababa ang mga deaths. Makikita natin na mas mababa iyong deaths na nangyari ngayong Oktubre kumpara noong Septyembre at Agosto. Kahit sa pagbaba ng kaso at mga deaths, tayo ay tuloy-tuloy na nagpapa-alala na kailangan iyong ating pagsunod sa mga protocols para po makita natin iyong continuous decline of our cases, utilization rate as well as our fatalities,” DOH Director Alethea de Guzman said during the Laging Handa briefing.
De Guzman said that nationally, utilization rates are now low-risk while NCR is at moderate-risk.
“Ang utilization rate sa NCR ay naibaba na rin natin under 50%, both sa total beds and ICU utilization natin,” she said.
According to de Guzman, the DOH along with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila mayors are discussing the possible de-escalation of NCR to Alert Level 2.
“Sa ating NCR pilot, nakita natin sa ating mga granular lockdowns iyong pag-iksi ng oras mula nang mahanap natin ang kaso hanggang sa siya ay na-isolate. Napababa natin,” she said.
“Tayo ay tuloy-tuloy na nagpapa-alala na despite the decline in our cases, utilization rate, and deaths, this is not the time to be complacent. Kailangan tuloy-tuloy ang ating pagsunod sa ginagawa nating protocols,” she added. -rir
