DOH monitors COVID-19 spike in 8 NCR cities, 2 regions

The Department of Health (DOH) is now monitoring the increase in COVID-19 cases in 8 cities in Metro Manila and 2 other regions.

“Nakakakita pa tayo ng tuloy-tuloy na pagbaba ng mga kaso natin nitong nakaraang 2 linggo… Ang NCR (National Capital Region) bagama’t naka-negative na ‘yung kanilang growth rate, ibig sabihin mas kaunti na ‘yung nare-report nila kasi nitong nakaraang linggo, nakita natin may 8 siyudad na dumadami ang nare-report nilang kaso,” said this Tuesday by Dr. Alethea de Guzman, medical specialist IV of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau.

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These cities include Valenzuela, Pasay, Malabon, Pasig, Makati, Navotas, Las Piñas, and Manila.

In Central Visayas, the increase was seen in the provinces of Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, and Bohol.

The increase in cases has affected the entire Caraga region, except Agusan del Sur.

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Despite this, hospital utilization in hospitals in these areas is not that high, except for Agusan del Norte which is at “high risk.”

“It’s a priority now for the region and the province to ensure that we have additional dedicated beds para hindi ma-push to even higher or to critical risk and kanilang health care utilization rate,” said De Guzman.

According to the DOH, it is best to use localized community quarantines to limit the spread of the disease while people living in areas that are not exposed to COVID-19 cases continue to follow health protocols.

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DOH monitors COVID-19 spike in 8 NCR cities, 2 regions

Of the 44 UK variant cases in the country, 40 have recovered while 3 are ill and one has died.

Survivors include a woman with a child working on the MRT, where numerous cases were recently recorded.

According to the DOH, it remains to be seen whether the lady’s contacts also have a UK variant.

Meanwhile, the government is also working to help the private sector get an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax, especially since other vaccine developers are no longer accepting orders.

It is said that through the agreement with Unilab, even small businesses can buy the vaccine.

He said the government hopes that Novavax vaccines will arrive in the Philippines in the third quarter of 2021.