DOH sees decreasing COVID-19 cases in Philippines

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country is generally decreasing, especially in Metro Manila, the Department of Health said Thursday.

Interviewed on GMA News TV's Balitanghali, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, said the department is also seeing some increase in various areas of the country.

Vergeire did not mention the areas but added the DOH is monitoring them.

“Base po sa aming datos sa ngayon, cases are decreasing generally for the country, especially dito po sa National Capital Region. Although we are seeing some increases in various areas of the country that we are trying to monitor right now, pero sa kabuuan po hindi pa po kami nakakakita ng pagtaas sa ngayon sa ating trend,” Vergeire said.

Asked whether the recent typhoons had a significant impact on the number of new cases, Vergeire said its effect will be seen on the first week of December to make way for the incubation period of the disease.

“Hindi pa ho natin makikita ang epekto nito until about mga first week of December because we are counting the incubation period and also the reporting na ibibigay sa atin ng mga areas na may evacuation sites,” she said.

Earlier, an expert from the University of the Philippines-OCTA Research team said the number of new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region increased by 6% but the virus’ reproduction number in the country remained below one.

The reproduction number is the expected number of new infections an infected individual may cause in a population where everyone is susceptible. An amount lower than 1 means a flattened curve, the research team said.

Professor Guido David said the reproduction number remains at .83 despite an increase in new cases in Metro Manila.

David said nine out of the 17 local government units in Metro Manila had an increase in their number of cases. Among those who had the highest increases were Caloocan, Quezon City, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Parañaque and Pasay.

He said the increase might have been caused by delayed results from several health centers due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

David said it is also possible that new cases were triggered by the increase in mobility or because people are getting lax. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/RSJ, GMA News