QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday declared five areas in Metro Manila to be under moderate risk following the continued rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the following areas are now under moderate risk classification:
- Marikina
- Pasig
- Pateros
- San Juan
- Quezon City
The DOH said an area will be classified as moderate risk if it has a positive two-week growth rate in the number of COVID-19 cases and average daily attack rate (ADAR) of between 1 to 7. ADAR is the incidence showing the average number of new cases in a period per 100,000 people.
"If we look at it, the growth rate of these areas has reached above 200% because from low numbers, cases suddenly increased," she said.
However, Vergeire said only one of the five mentioned areas had a slight increase in their hospital utilization with mild and asymptomatic admissions.
"Even though these five areas are under moderate risk classification, only one of them had a slight increase in hospital admissions and the rest are less than 50%," she added.
On Wednesday, the DOH said the Philippines was at low risk for COVID-19 even as it recorded a notable increase in coronavirus cases.
Vergeire said low risk means the ADAR remains at less than 1 per 100,000 population.
Based on the DOH’s latest data, The country on Friday logged 770 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily tally since March.
Based on the DOH’s latest data, the new infections brought the nationwide caseload to 3,699,251, while active cases increased to 6,068 from 5,523 on Thursday.
Metro Manila recorded 3,264 new cases in the past two weeks, followed by Calabarzon with 1,089, Western Visayas with 563, Central Luzon with 455, and Central Visayas with 279.
A total of 3,632,676 patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the number of deaths increased to 60,507. (PIA-NCR)
