DOH insists no 'surge' yet but coronavirus variants driving COVID-19 cases up

Coronavirus variants, including the more infectious Delta variant, are among the factors likely causing the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.

Still, Vergeire, in an interview on Balitanghali, said the department is not yet classifying the recent spike in cases as a "surge."

“Nakikita naman ho natin ‘yung factor ng variant dito sa pagtaas ng mga kaso sa iba’t ibang lugar dito sa Pilipinas,” Vergeire said.

(We can the variants as factor to the increase in cases in different parts of the country.)

Other factors may have also played a role, such as mobility of the people and poor compliance with health protocols, Vergeire said.

The Philippines has recorded 119 Delta variant cases, 12 of which remain active.

On Tuesday, the country reported 7,186 new COVID-19 infections, the highest daily infection recorded since June 13.

However, the DOH said the increase could not be classified as a surge.

“Kasi ang tinitignan natin kapag we use surge, we relate it to the healthcare capacity of the country. For example sa NCR, nasa moderate risk pa lang ‘yung mga gamit natin, so we cannot really classify this as a surge,” she said.

Independent group OCTA Research has recommended a two-week 'circuit-breaker' lockdown in NCR as it recorded an average of almost 1,000 cases daily.

But Vergeire said as far as the DOH is concerned, the country is not at a level where a lockdown is needed, adding that such measures must be talked about with other officials.

“Unang-una, nirerespeto po natin ang opinyon ng mga iba nating experts outside of government. Kaya lang po ang atin pong basahin para mag escalate or de-escalate would be metrics na ginagamit for healthcare capacity,” she said.

“Although, we’re sounding the alarm already, base sa objective discussion and analysis, nakikita natin na wala pa tayo doon sa level na kailangan mag lockdown,” she added.

The Philippines has logged a total of 1,562,420 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 1,478,625 have recovered and 27,318 have died. —KBK, GMA News