DOH monitors plateauing of COVID cases observed in NCR

The Department of Health on Friday said it is monitoring the plateauing of COVID-19 cases being observed in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the recent week.

“Dito naman po sa NCR, napapansin natin na ‘yung cases natin ay nagpla-plateau this recent week,” Health Undersecretary Maria Roasrio Vergeire said in a media briefing.

(Here in NCR, we observed that our cases are plateauing.)

“Pero babantayan po natin ‘yan. Katulad po nung nangyari nung isang linggo na meron tayong slight uptick in the number of reported cases pero pagktapos ng ilang araw ay bumaba rin naman po,” she added.

(But we are monitoring this, just as keep watch on the situation last week where we noticed a slight uptick in the number of reported cases, but the number decreased after a few days.)

At present, Vergeire said NCR, as well as the whole country, are under low-risk classification, and minimal case classification for COVID-19.

But, she said the DOH is monitoring the Cordillera Administrative Region, which remains to be the only area under a moderate risk case classification.

NCR situation within projections

On the other hand, Vergeire said that the situation in the NCR is meeting DOH's earlier projections.

“Nakita doon sa projection na patuloy na baba ang ating mga kaso at ito naman po ay nangyayari" (We are seeing that our projection that cases will decrease this is happening),” Vergeire said.

Earlier, the DOH reported that active cases can go down to 1,035 in NCR if the mobility, adherence to protocols, and detection-to-isolation time are sustained.

However, Vergeire reiterated that with higher mobility, lower adherence to health protocols, and a slower detection-to-solation time, cases can once again increase.

“So nanawagan po tayo sa ating mga kababayan sama-sama po natin na pagtulungan na masustain na mababa lang po ang ating mga kaso by complying with the safety protocols of government,” she said.

(That’s why we’re calling on the public to help us sustain the low number of cases by complying with the safety protocols of government.)

Isolation facility dismantling 

Meanwhile, Vergeire said that local government units' move to dismantle quarantine facilities is not a cause for worry.

“Hindi po natin kailangan mag-alala. Dahil alam po natin ang local governments … pataas pa lang ang mga kaso ready na ready na po sila… they can easily set up these quarantine facilities,” she said.

(We don’t need to worry because our local governments are ready. They can easily set up these quarantine facilities.)

Further, Vergeire said that LGUs may temporarily need the space being used as quarantine facilities.

“Kailangan din po siguro talagang i-dismantle para malinisan ‘yung area na pinaggamitan para dito sa quarantine facilities” (Maybe it’s also important to dismantle to clean the area), she added. —LBG, GMA News