Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Philippines is at critical risk for COVID-19 with an almost 700% increase in the seven-day moving average of daily reported cases.
The National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon are also under the critical risk category for COVID-19.
DOH Sec. Duque says the country is under “critical risk” category for COVID-19 with a 3663% two-week growth rate.
— PTVph (@PTVph) January 10, 2022
According to OCTA Research, the average daily attack rate (ADAR) or COVID-19 incidence in the NCR has increased to 89.42 on Jan. 4 to 10, placing the region on severe outbreak status.
The group said the positivity and hospitalization rates have significantly increased.
But with the high vaccination rate in NCR, the Department of Health (DOH) said COVID-19 patients in the region are 60% less likely to be hospitalized compared to patients outside the region.
The country’s healthcare utilization rate remains under the low risk category and the majority of confined or admitted patients only have mild symptoms.
“Bagamat nakikita natin na mild or banayad lang ang sintomas or asymptomatic ang mga ito, hindi po ibig sabihin na hindi nahihirapan ang mga ospital,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“Although in some of the regions like the NCR, ‘yun pong utilization natin for ward beds is nearing ‘yung moderate natin na threshold,” she added.
The DOH said over 6,500 health workers in Metro Manila are under quarantine due to COVID-19, comprising 7.2% of the region’s around 91,800 health workers.
“Nakikita natin na nagko-close ‘yung some services like elective surgeries and the rest like diagnostics para lang maka-cover ngayon sa mga healthcare workers na naka-isolate at naka-quarantine,” DOH USec. Leopoldo Vega said.
In response, Vergeire said several uniformed personnel have already been deployed in some NCR hospitals.
The DOH also explained the shortened quarantine period for fully vaccinated healthcare workers infected and exposed to the virus, saying that all policies implemented are based on science and evidence.
On. Jan. 11, an additional 28,007 COVID-19 cases brought the country’s current active cases to 181,016. The highest number of daily new cases was recorded on Jan. 10 at more than 33,000.
Omicron threat
Duque said Omicron has taken over Delta as the country’s dominant variant amid the current surge in cases.
“Base po sa ating pinakahuling run of our whole genome sequencing, 60% na po sa mga samples na na-sequence ay positive for Omicron variant. So siya na po ‘yung nagdo-dominate na variant, whereas before it was the Delta,” he told President Rodrigo Duterte.
However, the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) said more evidence is needed on the matter, noting that there have been many Delta cases last December.
“Whether this is reflected in the fact that Omicron is already dominant in the country, we need to have further evidence,” PGC Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Saloma said.
Meanwhile, Saloma said genome sequencing machines have arrived in the Visayas and Mindanao for their own biosurveillance. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
Watch the report here:
