All island groups of the Philippines have seen an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Based on the Department of Health (DOH) data, the National Capital Region (NCR) and NCR Plus – which includes Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal – showed a rapid increase in cases.
NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley region and Central Visayas are also in the “high risk” classification.
The DOH also admitted that in some regions of the country, the impact of the Delta variant is felt.
In fact, of the 36 areas monitored by the DOH due to the “moderate” to “high risk” classification, 8 were detected local cases of the more contagious Delta variant.
There are also 21 areas monitored due to high or critical levels of health care and intensive care unit utilization rate.
11 Delta variant cases were detected in those areas, the most in Bataan, Lapu-Lapu City, and Laguna.
In NCR, 9 cities saw Delta variant cases while Las Piñas and Manila saw the most cases.
According to the World Health Organization, there may be already limited community transmission of the Delta variant.
DOH: NCR, 4 more regions ‘high risk’ in COVID-19
“I cannot exclude the fact that there is limited community transmission in some places,” said WHO Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe.
“It’s not important whether there is community transmission or whether there is not. It’s not important whether there is a surge or not. We need to recognize that we are facing risk because of highly transmissible variant of the disease,” he added.
What is important for Abeyasinghe is to break the infection through early testing, quarantine, and isolation.
The longer a person with the Delta variant is exposed, the more likely the virus will spread to more people.
According to Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire, the government is committed to improving community response, adjusting hospitals’ response, and continuing vaccination against COVID-19.
“We should stockpile on essential COVID commodities, which include ensuring a 30-day buffer for [personal protective equipment] and other medical supplies,” said Vergeire.
“Oxygen plants should be ready to produce twice their monthly production as projected,” she added.
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