FROM “moderate” risk for Covid-19 less than a week ago, the Department of Health (DOH) said the Philippines is now classified as “high risk” due to the high number of infections recorded.
In an online media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also said that over 200 medical facilities nationwide are at critical risk while in the National Capital Region (NCR), 25 health-care facilities are also under critical risk.
Vergeire said the increase in cases was seen in the last week of July and exceeded the seven-day moving average.
Average daily reported cases: August 2 to 8: 8,829, July 26 to August 1: 7,029, July 19 – 25: 5,769, July 12 – 18: 4,989, and cases peaked on April 9-15: 10,845.
Nationally, the DOH official added, the two-week growth rate (TWGR) remains to be positive with an increase in average daily attack rate (ADAR). “Health capacity at 62 percent; Regions 1, 2, 4A, 7, and 10 with a moderate risk HCUR [health care utilization rate],” Vergeire said.
For NCR: Pateros, Malabon, and Navotas are at critical risk with high-risk TWGR and ADAR; 15 out of 17 areas have high-risk ADAR; Districts 2 (Pateros, Pasig, Taguig, Quezon City, and Marikina), 3 (Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, and Manila), and 4 (Pasay, Paranaque, Las Piñas, and Mandaluyog) with ICU utilization rate 50-70 percent.
Vergeire said that 46 areas are at Alert Level 3: Areas with moderate to high risk classification and total beds and ICU utilization less than 70 percent, 42 areas at Alert Level 4: Areas with moderate to high risk classification and health capacity greater than 70 percent in the current week.