Projected 30k COVID-19 daily cases in NCR ‘not set in stone’ —DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday clarified that the projected average of 30,000 COVID-19 cases per day for September 30 in the National Capital Region (NCR) is ‘not cast in stone.’

According to the DOH, the projection may change as local government units implement targeted, granular lockdowns and enhance active case finding as well as fast-track vaccination.

The agency earlier said that based on assumptions on mobility, public health and healthcare capacities and system, and adherence to minimum health protocols, cases in NCR may range from 16,000 to 43,000 daily

“With these high daily case projections, the Department calls on the national government and LGUs to lower the interval between case detection to isolation, strictly monitor the public’s adherence to the MPHS, and further ramp up vaccination coverage to lower our daily cases in NCR,” it said.

“The DOH also reminded the public to use face masks correctly and consistently, practice physical distancing, and get vaccinated when they become eligible,” it added.

Meanwhile, the agency previously said that new COVID-19 cases could peak in the middle of September as it noted that the country has been seeing new peaks every week since cases started to “swiftly” increase in the fourth week of July.

The Philippines reported Friday 20,310 new COVID-19 cases, the second highest daily infections reported since the pandemic.

This brings the nationwide tally to 2,040,568.—AOL, GMA News