Uptick in COVID cases in some areas may be due to rallies, says gov't adviser

National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa on Wednesday said the "gradual" increase in COVID-19 cases in some areas may have been due to political rallies for the May 9 elections.

"Gradual lang 'yung increase. Yung mga binabantayan na Alert Level 1, there is a gradual increase of new cases, puwedeng dahil diyan sa rallies," Herbosa said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(There is a gradual increase in some areas under Alert Level 1, possibly due to the rallies.)

However, Herbosa said the increased mobility of people is a big factor in the uptick of cases in some areas, as reported by the Department of Health (DOH).

"To me, it is the increased mobility ng tao dahil naglagay tayo sa Alert Level 1, nakita niyo naman wala tayong chini-check na vaccine card [o] contact tracing form [pag] pagpumasok tayo sa mga pampublikong lugar," he said.

(For me, it is the increased mobility of people because of the eased restrictions under Alert Level 1. Vaccine cards and contact tracing forms are no longer checked when entering public places.)

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported seeing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in 14 areas under Alert Level 1 after the Catholic observance of Holy Week, amid the Muslims' holy month of Ramadan, and the ongoing political campaigns.

Herbosa then encouraged individuals who are currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to stay at home and avoid going to public areas.

"Ang payo ko sa ating mga kababayan, kung kayo ay may sintomas, huwag na kayo lumabas maglagi na lang kayo sa bahay para hindi ninyo mahawa ang marami pang tao na kasama sa public transport at pampublikong lugar," he said.

(My advice to our countrymen, if you have symptoms, don't go out and  just stay at home so that you don't infect other people on public transport and public places.)

Herbosa said healthcare workers and hospitals are prepared in case another COVID-19 surge takes place after May 9 elections.

He, however, dismissed the possibility of imposing another lockdown, saying this will only happen if the healthcare system collapses.

"Pini-predict na tataas in the middle of May at in the thousands again, which is I hope hindi makaapekto sa ating healthcare system," Herbosa said.

"Magla-lockdown lang tayo kung magko-collapse ang ating healthcare system. At dahil mataas ang antas ng ating vaccination, confident ako na kagaya nang nangyari sa Omicron [surge], malalagpasan natin kung ano man ang susunod na surge na mangyayari."

(Daily COVID-19 cases may reach the thousands again by mid-May and I hope it will not affect our healthcare system. We will only impose a lockdown if our healthcare system collapses. But since our vaccination rate is high, I am confident that like what happened during the Omicron surge, we will be able to overcome the next surge.)

The DOH earlier said that a 50% decrease in the compliance of minimum public health standards in the National Capital Region may result in 25,000 to 60,000 new COVID-19 cases per day by mid-May.

The Philippines on Tuesday logged another record-low new COVID-19 infections at 123, bringing the nationwide tally to 3,684,835.

The active cases also further decreased to 11,580, the lowest since December 30, 2021.

A total of 3,613,060 people have been counted as recoveries, while the death toll climbed to 60,195. —KBK, GMA News