Four regions in the country have recorded a steady increase in COVID-19 cases in recent days, according to Health Sec. Francisco Duque on Monday.
“May patuloy na pagtaas po ng mga kaso sa mga regions IV-A, Region III, ang Central Visayas or Region VII, at ang lalong-lalo na po, partikular ang NCR, na kung saan po nagpakita nang mataas na two-week growth rate. Ang ibig pong sabihin nito ay nagkaroon po nang mataas na bilang ng kaso ng COVID ngayong kasalukuyang dalawang linggo kumpara po noong ikatlo hanggang ika-apat na linggong nakaraan,” he said.
In Metro Manila, Pasay City and Malabon City can be considered in the “critical risk” classification, while the cities of Navotas, Makati, and San Juan are “high risk level,” Duque said.
When it comes to health care utilization rates of hospitals, Region 7 and Cordillera Administrative Region are the highest with 48 and 47 percent utilization.
The utilization rate of Makati City and Davao Occidental is also high while “moderate risk” areas are Lapu-Lapu City, Ormoc City, Nueva Vizcaya, Santiago City, Ifugao, Mandaue City, Mandaluyong City, and Cebu province.
Pasay, Malabon at ‘critical risk’ in COVID-19 pandemic
Due to the UK and South African variants of COVID-19, the DOH met with the mayors of Metro Manila to remind them to look into the prevention, detection, isolation, and treatment of those affected by the virus.
Duque recommends increasing the number of contact tracers in selected areas with high cases to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Siguro mahalaga po na buhusan natin ng contact tracers dito po sa Pasay, Malabon, Navotas at Makati, para po mas mabilis po nilang mahinto ang hawaan, ma-identify kaagad po iyong mga exposed doon po sa mga COVID cases and … mai-isolate sila kaagad or ma-quarantine po sa lalong madaling panahon para hindi makapanghawa,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte, on the other hand, believes that the increase in COVID-19 cases is due to the public’s negligence in following health protocols.
“Alam mo maraming namatay, marami rin ang may sakit. Ang pinakamataas ngayon Metro — ang Manila, Manila mismo. Ngayon, anong dahilan nito? Well, ‘yong hindi maniwala sa social distancing, hindi naman naniniwala sa personal hygiene.”
Manilaa strong paper or thin cardboard with a smooth light brown finish made from e.g. Manila hempMore (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)