DOH monitoring several NCR areas with rise in COVID-19 cases, says increase ‘not significant yet’

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it is monitoring several areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) with a rise in COVID-19 infections, but stressed that such an increase is not significant yet as of the moment.

In a radio interview, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Pateros has a positive growth rate, while Malabon’s intensive care unit (ICU) is at full capacity.

“Pero nung pinag-aralan naman natin, tatatlo lang ‘yung ICU beds nila [sa Malabon] at ngayon, puno po na tatlo ang kanilang ICU beds (when we looked at it, they only had three ICU beds and now they are full),” she said.

Meanwhile, she added that there is also an increase in Navotas which only has 46 beds in COVID wards. Right now, she assured that the COVID-19 wards in the area are still less than 60% occupied.

“Binabantayan po naming maigi. Sa tingin po namin, hindi pa naman ito significant because ‘yung mga naa-admit din is really going there not because of COVID but because they have other illnesses tapos ‘pag tinest, nagco-COVID-positive sila,” Vergeire explained.

(We are monitoring closely. For us, it is not significant yet because some of those admitted went to hospitals not because of COVID but because they have other illnesses and when they are tested, they get positive for COVID-19.)

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said last week that the DOH is seeing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in 14 areas under Alert Level 1.

Vergeire pointed out that possible reasons for the uptick in cases would be the reduced compliance to the minimum public health standards, the crowding during election campaign sorties, and the gatherings over the Holy Week. 

“Tinitignan ho natin, closely monitoring tayo sa mga areas na ‘to. We are not seeing significant increases as of this time. Most specifically, mas importante po doon sa mga pagtaas sa mga kaso na nakikita natin na bahagya, ay hindi natin nakikita na napupuno ang mga ospital,” she added.

(We are closely monitoring these areas. We are not seeing significant increases as of this time. It is more important that despite this slight increase in cases, the hospitals are not filling up.)

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Wednesday that such an increase in COVID-19 infections may only be an uptick or “statistical noise” and does not indicate yet that another surge is forthcoming. — RSJ, GMA News