The University of the Philippines (UP) COVID-19 Response Team warned that up to 30,000 daily COVID-19 cases in September.
According to Prof Jomar Rabajante, in the simulations conducted by their team, the chances of the COVID-19 cases decreasing due to previous interventions appear to be small.
COVID-19 cases may peak at the end of September or October and then decrease.
He said the study by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team showed that, unlike the previous lockdowns, human activity continues even though their area has been enhanced in community quarantine.
According to the group, up to 4 million COVID-19 cases could hit the Philippines before the end of 2021.
Rabajante, on the other hand, stressed that vaccination helps against the increase in cases, which can be seen in the hospitalization rate in the National Capital Region.
Therefore, he said the government should focus on the faster arrival of the supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
Rabajante also reminded that the increase in COVID-19 cases must be alerted now that there are coming typhoons and the holiday season when many are coming together.
The OCTA Research Group recommended a 3-week hard lockdown following the recording of more than 22,000 COVID-19 cases on Monday.
UP team projects 30,000 daily COVID-19 cases in September
But the DOH is cold on the proposal because the study shows that it is not effective.
Instead, they will focus on granular lockdowns on local governments that are more effective in controlling human movement and transmission of disease.
According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the Inter-Agency Task Force will approve the proposal to focus on granular lockdowns.
“Atin pong tinitingnan ang proposed policy shift ng ating data analytics kung saan we will not have these hard lockdowns, but instead we will implement granular lockdown among our local governments,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire also appealed to the public not to panic following the recording of 22,000 new cases.
“If we panic, hindi na natin maintindihan kung ano ang [gagawin] natin, lalo ho tayong magkakasakit,” said Vergeire.
According to Vergeire, the case was expected to increase on Monday due to the Delta variant’s faster transmission.
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