COVID-19 risk classification of Philippines now moderate

The Philippines has been raised to moderate COVID-19 risk classification from low-risk classification and the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country and the threat of the more contagious Delta variant.

In data released by the Department of Health (DOH), all island groups in the country except Mindanao have increased cases.

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The trend in Mindanao is a plateau.

In Metro Manila, on Wednesday, the highest number of COVID-19 cases were recorded at 1,151. This was followed by Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Eastern Visayas.

“In NCR, 11 areas are currently with a positive 2-week growth rate. Makati, Las Piñas, and Pasay are currently with the highest average daily attack rate. The whole region is now again at a positive 2-week growth rate at 19 percent. This should be a cause for concern as NCR has been at a negative 2-week growth rate for week, before this current week,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

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The number of Delta COVID-19 variants increased by 97.

In total, there will be 88 local cases, and six are returning overseas Filipinos or ROF.

COVID-19 risk classification of Philippines now moderate

Of the six ROFs, two are the crew of MT Clyde and Barge Claudia anchored in Albay, while four are crew members of MV Vega from Indonesia.

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Besides the Delta variant, there was an increase of 83 cases of Alpha variant and 127 cases of Beta variant, which are considered variants of concern by the World Health Organization.

Despite seeing an increase in cases, the DOH insisted that it could not be called a ‘surge.’ Vergeire first pleaded on Monday not to use it anymore.

But this Thursday, the speaker had clarification on the word surge.

“We’d like to clarify. ‘Yung surge kasi is not really a recognized term in epidemiology. So as much as possible, we do not want to use that,” said Vergeire.

“Ang public, ang pagkakaintindi naman talaga ng surge ay ‘yung biglang pagtaas ng kaso na madami talaga. There is this rapid or large increase in the number of cases. Pag ‘yan ang pinagbasehan natin, wala tayong nakikitang surge… We do not like to be an alarmist, ayaw po namin na nagpa-panic ang ating kababayan, but hindi rin naming sinasabi na maging complacent tayo,” she added.

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