DOH: No surge of COVID-19 cases in NCR so far

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said there is no surge of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) just yet. 

DOH-NCR Epidemiology Director Dr. Manuel Mape II made such response after the OCTA Research Group suggested a two-week circuit-breaker lockdown after the COVID-19 reproduction rate in Metro Manila went up to 1.33. 

“We cannot call it a surge yet although we see that the number of cases are starting to increase in certain local government  units,” he said during the Laging Handa briefing.

These NCR LGUs which are experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases, Mapue said, include Las Piñas, Makati, Pasig and San Juan. 

“There is a slight increase in some LGUs, but there are days where the number of new cases do not increase. Of course, we also have to factor in that there are late reports [of confirmed cases],” Mape pointed out. 

Mape said the NCR has recorded 25 cases of Delta variant so far. Of the 25, sixteen are active cases, eight have recovered and one died.

These 25 Delta variant cases were recorded in the following areas: 

• Las Piñas with one case
• Makati with one case
• Malabon with one case
• Manila with 10 cases
• Parañaque with one caae
• Pasig with seven cases
• Quezon City with one case
• San Juan with two cases and 
• Taguig with one case

Given the situation, Mape called on the public to strictly observe minimum public health standards and get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as the supply is available. 

Likewise, he pushed for intensified contract tracing on the part of the government.

“The most important step now is to observe the health protocols and improve contract tracing to expand to third generation because we are seeing infections on second generation [of close contact],” Mape said. 

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 1,562,420 on Tuesday with 7,186 new infections, the highest daily infection recorded since June 13.

The DOH also announced that total recoveries climbed to 1,478,625 after 5,672 more patients recovered from the illness while 72 new fatalities brought the death toll to 27,318. —KG, GMA News