The Department of Health (DOH) said the situation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) should still be monitored in some low-risk areas, particularly in Luzon, even though the number of cases in the said area has dropped.
According to the data released by the DOH, all regions in Luzon except the Cordillera Administrative Region, which has a steady trend, are showing a downward trend.
Metro Manila and some areas such as Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Misamis Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, and Dinagat are low-risk but monitored by the agency.
“They’re actually exhibiting negative growth rates. Pero nakikita natin na ang ICU utilization sa mga lugar na ito ay umaabot na ng high and critical risk. Ito ang pagpapaalala na kahit na ang mga kaso ay kakaunti o nagsisimula pa lang ang kaso, ito ang panahon na pagplanuhan at iensure na meron tayong sapat na kama,” said DOH Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea De Guzman.
But in the Visayas, the trend is rising. However, the DOH hopes that the visible decrease in cases in Region 7 will continue.
The trend of each region in Mindanao is different.
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The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing in Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and Caraga, while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Northern Mindanao is seeing a downward trend. The trend of cases in the Zamboanga Peninsula has plateaued or flattened.
As of Wednesday, the DOH recorded 4,353 new COVID-19 cases. According to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, this is the 2nd day that the number of COVID-19 cases is less than 5,000.
There are signs that cases are declining nationwide, according to the DOH. Still, at the same time, there is the continuing threat of the Delta variant, which is said to be very dangerous if communities are penetrated.
Such a variant has caused the collapse of the healthcare system in India, which has resulted in the demise of so many people. The Delta variant has reached 85 countries, including the Philippines.
“According to WHO experts, this is the fastest and fittest coronavirus strain, yet and it will affect most vulnerable people especially in places with low COVID-19 vaccination rates,” said UP – National Institute of Health Executive Director Eva Cutiongco-Dela Paz.
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