“Ito po ay kailangan pa rin pag-usapan sa IATF. Mayroon po tayong ginagamit na mga scientific na batayan para masabi natin kung anong level dapat ng quarantine status sa isang lugar (This needs to be discussed by the IATF. We have scientific bases to determine the level of quarantine status in a particular area),” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire explained.
As of September 6, the reproduction number of COVID-19 in the country is 0.848. The case doubling time as of September 21 is at 11.02 days while mortality doubling time is at 15.79 days.
The National Capital Region (NCR) has a critical care utilization rate (CCUR) of 58 percent as of September 20, or nearly 10 percent lower than the 67 percent rate last September 2. The CCUR for Calabarzon, Cebu, and Bulacan also declined by one to three percent in the same period.
“Nakikita rin natin na ang critical care utilization natin, once napakataas na nasa danger zone, we are now in that warning zone na lang nasa 58-55 percent nalang tayo. Pero marami pa tayo kailangan gawin (We are monitoring our critical care utilization rate which us now in the warning zone at 58 to 55 percent. But there is still a lot to do),” Vergeire clarified.
UP OCTA Research added that the 28-day case doubling time must be achieved first before going into modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
“Actually hindi pa natin naaabot ‘yung mga milestones eh that would qualify NCR, for example, for an MGCQ status. May scientific criteria silang ginagamit (We have not yet reached the milestones that would qualify NCR for an MGCQ status. There is a scientific criteria being used). And it is really the slowing down and the management of transmission in the NCR,” Prof. Ranjit Rye elucidated.
As of Sept. 23, there are 294,591 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 2,833 newly reported ones, 231,373 recoveries and 5,091 fatalities nationwide. – Report from Mark Fetalco
