DOH: Active COVID-19 cases in NCR could hit 83k by end-August

Active COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila could still hit 83,921 by August 31 even if vaccination and adherence to health protocols are ramped up while the capital region is under modified enhanced community quarantine, the Department of Health said Friday.

In a statement, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said projections by the DOH and modeling tool FASSSTER showed that intensified strategies “may result in 83,921 active cases by August 31 and 158,489 active cases in NCR by September 30.”

Vergeire said that if the ECQ had been extended for two more weeks and the current levels of vaccination and enforcement of protocols were maintained, “active cases in NCR may reach up to 66,403 by August 31 and 269,694 by September 30.”

Metro Manila recorded a total of 32,039 active cases as of August 19, according to DOH.

Metro Manila was under ECQ, the strictest lockdown classification, from August 6 to 20. It was downgraded to MECQ along with the province of Laguna on August 21. 

The DOH urged authorities to enforce targeted restrictions and monitor granular lockdowns and specific high-risk activities.

“We will continue to see a dramatic increase in cases in the coming days and this is not the time to be complacent,” Vergeire said.

“Adherence to the minimum public health standards is still our best defense against the virus. Early consultation and testing is key to cutting the transmission within households, communities, and workplaces,” she added.

The Philippines logged a record-high 17,231 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising its caseload to over 1.8 million with 1.65 million recoveries and 31,198 deaths. 

The country has fully vaccinated over 12.87 million people as of August 18.—LDF, GMA News