DOH: No COVID-19 surge in Metro Manila

The Department of Health insisted that there is no COVID-19 surge in Metro Manila despite the increase in COVID-19 cases in the past days.

“‘Wag na muna natin gamitin ang surge. Kasi meron ‘yang definition sa epidemiology which is not yet happening right now. Tumataas ang kaso. That we can verify,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

ADVERTISEMENT

The OCTA Research Group first noted that there were “early signs” of a COVID-19 surge again, particularly in Metro Manila.

“If next week nag-increase pa ‘yung number and if more than 1k average cases kasi ngayon were around 900 cases ang average ng NCR. Pag lumampas na tayong 1,200 to 1,500 it’s going to be critical an, and we really have to put a hard stop to it,” said OCTA Research fellow Guido David.

According to OCTA Research, there are now 954 average daily cases in NCR, which is 47 percent higher than the previous week.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up to 84 Delta variant cases were added to the DOH’s record in the past four days.

Despite this, the DOH admitted that the increase in the number of falls ill elsewhere is due to the spread of the variant of concern.

Also read: Some Filipinos in Vietnam calling for help due to COVID-19 surge

ADVERTISEMENT

DOH: No COVID-19 surge in Metro Manila

“Atin pang inaalam what really happened in these specific areas, if there were really breaches or meron pa tayong factors na kailangan tingnan,” said Vergeire.

Of the more than 8,000 samples subjected to whole-genome sequencing, it appears that 21.6 percent were positive on the Beta variant, 19 percent on the Alpha variant, and 1.27 percent on the Delta variant.

Meanwhile, businesses have once again been hit after general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions was reimplemented in the National Capital Region.

GCQ was tightened again in Manila on Friday due to the threat of the more contagious Delta variant of .

Under this, those aged 5 to 17 are no longer allowed to go out, and the  of 10 pm to 4 am was also restored.

According to Resto PH, some restaurant owners have closed again due to tight restrictions.

This is despite the investment of the private sector in vaccinating their staff.

So the group appealed for extra capacity for fully-vaccinated .

Visit our Facebook page for more  updates.