DOH: 11 NCR cities show increase in COVID-19 cases

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said 11 cities in Metro Manila have registered a positive two-week case growth rate, indicating an increase in COVID-19 cases amid local transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said more regions have been exhibiting a “trend reversal” from a negative to positive two-week case growth rate.

“The NCR now [has] 11 areas with positive two-week case growth rate,” Vergeire said at a briefing. “There is a need to identify the causes for this increase in cases in these local governments to preserve the gains achieved in the past two months.”

“The detection of the variants of concern can be correlated with the case spikes that we are experiencing. We need to continually strengthen border control,” she added.

The DOH said seven Delta variant cases have addresses in Metro Manila, including Manila, Pasig, and Taguig.

The capital region averaged 797 new cases daily from July 16 to 22, higher than its average of 618 new infections during July 9 to 15.

COVID-19 case trends

Despite the case increase seen in Metro Manila, Vergeire said the entire country is still classified as a low-risk area for COVID-19.

The Philippines averaged 5,666 new cases per day during July 16 to 22, higher than the previous week’s average of 5,040 infections.

In NCR Plus, Cavite and Bulacan posted the “fastest increase” in cases while infections in Laguna and Rizal are plateauing.

In the rest of Luzon, an upward trend was seen in Regions 2, 3, and 4A, a downtrend was observed in Region 5, and plateauing was recorded in Regions 1, 4B, and the Cordillera.

In the Visayas, Region 7 logged a “steep rise” in cases while the decline in new infections has slowed in Region 8. In Region 6, the case trend has plateaued.

In Mindanao, Region 10 is exhibiting a “fast increase” in cases and infections are also rising in Caraga and the Bangsamoro. Regions 9 and 11 are on a downtrend while Region 12 is experiencing a plateau.

The Philippines has registered 47 Delta variant cases, only eight of which remain active. 

The government has tightened restrictions in Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao del Norte, and Davao de Oro after the DOH announced local transmission of the Delta variant. 

The Philippines has also expanded its temporary travel ban to cover Malaysia and Thailand. — RSJ, GMA News