All regions now at minimal risk for COVID-19 — DOH

All regions in the country are now at minimal risk for COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Tuesday.

During the DOH Kapihan, Health Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea de Guzman said all the regions recorded a negative 2-week growth rate and an average daily attack rate of less than 1 per 100,000 individuals.

“Makikita natin lahat na rin ng ating region ay nasa minimal risk po, no. So even those like CAR, and Region II, and [Region] IX na dating naka low-risk, nakababa na rin ang kanilang ADAR to less than 1,” she said.

(We can see that our regions are at minimal risk. So even those like CAR, and Region II, and Region IX which were previously low risk, their ADAR has decreased to less than 1.)

The Philippines recorded a 2-week growth rate of -59% with an ADAR of 0.41.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region recorded a 2-week growth rate of -61% and an ADAR of 0.67.

“All provinces, HUCs, and ICCs of areas remain under Alert Level 2 with minimal to low-risk case classification,” De Guzman said.

However, the DOH said it is monitoring Region XII and Region V, which recorded a positive growth rate in the recent week of 7% and 3%, respectively.

“Ito ay babantayan natin, no, kung ito ay magtutuloy-tuloy at magtra-translate into a positive 2-week growth rate. Sa ngayon, for Regions XII at V, their 2-week growth rate remains to be negative,” she said.

(We are monitoring if this will continue and translate into a positive 2-week growth rate. For now, the 2-week growth rate of Region XII and Region V remains to be negative.)

The DOH is also monitoring Lapu-Lapu City and General Santos City after these recorded a positive 1-week growth rate and a positive 2-week growth rate.

Lapu-Lapu City recorded a positive 1-week growth rate of 10.53% and a positive 2-week growth rate of 2.56% while General Santos recorded a 1-week growth rate of 79.17% and a 2-week growth rate of 1.52%.

Both areas remain at low-risk classification with an ADAR of less than 1 per 100,000.

“We also noted that their total bed utilization remains to be at low risk at ngayon ang kanilang ICU utilization ay naiiwang 0%,” Des Guzman said.

“Tulad ng nabanggit ko ito ay tuloy-tuloy nating babantayan kung ito ay magiging continuous na increase or baka naman ito ay bahagyang temporary increase lamang nitong nakaraang linggo,” she added.

(As I said, we will monitor if this increase is continuous or if it is temporary.)

The Philippines on Tuesday reported 235 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,836,868. — RSJ, GMA News