Metro Manila should remain vigilant despite slower COVID-19 spread, says DOH-NCR exec

Metro Manila residents should not be complacent amid reports that the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now on a slower pace, Department of Health–National Capital Region assistant director Dr. Paz Corrales said Thursday.

“Hindi po tayo dapat ganun ka-complacent o ka-relax na OK na tayo, hindi po,” Corrales said in an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit, noting that the peak of COVID-19 spread is yet to be determined.

On Wednesday, data analytics expert of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Dr. John Wong said the flattening of the curve is "more evident" in Metro Manila.

“Noong bago pa lang ang coronavirus sa atin, in two to three days, tumataas po ang number of cases. Ngayon po, in five to seven days, doon po nakikita ‘yung reported new cases,” Corrales said.

“When it is going on a slower pace, na nami-misinterpret natin na we are coming to a flattening of the curve, it just means mas kumokonti ang tao na nai-infect over a longer period of time,” she explained.

“It only refers to number of cases over a certain period of time, gaya ng in-explain ni Dr. Wong,” she added.

Wong presented data from 10 days ago showing case doubling time at 4.6 days for Metro Manila, where most COVID-19 cases were reported.

"By April 1, the case doubling time took three days, and it has [been] flattening at a more dramatic rate. In NCR where 70% of the COVID-19 cases are, the flattening is more evident," Wong said.

With the slower spread of COVID-19, Corrales said that health systems will be more efficient in managing infected patients.

“Mas kaunti ang tao na na-iinfect over a longer period of time which means the health system can adjust to the health needs of the patients. Mas kakaunti na ang pinapaalis sa ospital dahil sa walang room, walang space,” Corrales said.

The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team earlier presented a study showing that the country’s healthcare system would be overwhelmed if COVID-19 transmission is not significantly reduced.

According to the Department of Health, the doubling of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines was cut down by half in April due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) enforced since March 17.

Corrales said the key to fighting COVID-19 spread is to test more people, find the cases, and isolate them and treat them.

On Wednesday, the DOH reported that the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines breached the 10,000 mark with 320 new infections, bringing the total to 10,004.

The number of patients who have recovered from the respiratory illness also surged to 1,506 with 98 new recoveries.

Meanwhile, the death toll climbed to 658 with 21 more fatalities.—AOL, GMA News