DOH: Philippines back to moderate risk as COVID-19 cases decline

The Philippines has returned to a moderate risk classification due to the declining number of COVID-19 cases, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

At a Palace news conference, DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea De Guzman said the country’s cases fell 4% over the past two weeks compared to a positive growth of 27% three to four weeks ago.

The Philippines has 161,447 active cases as of September 26.

The country had been under high-risk classification for more than a month prior to this development.

Nine regions remained high-risk areas for COVID-19, namely, CAR, Regions 1,2,4B, 5, 6,9, 12, CAR, and Caraga.

Metro Manila and regions 3, 4A, 7,8, 10,11, and BARMM are now under moderate risk.

The national average daily attack rate stood at 17.12 cases per 100,000 population for the period September 13 to 26 as against 17.80 cases for the period August 30 to September 12.

COVID-19 bed utilization (67.83%) and mechanical ventilator utilization (55.16%) are also at moderate risk.

The ICU occupancy rate, however, remained at high risk (75.58%). — RSJ, GMA News