DOH: Slight increase in new COVID-19 cases not sustained

The observed increase in new COVID-19 cases over the past weeks in the country is not yet sustained, the Department of Health (DOH)  said on Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country remains at low risk for COVID-19 with a positive one-week and two-week growth rate since May 25.

“Nakakita tayo ng bahagyang pagtaas ng mga kaso. Gayun pa man, hindi pa ito observed to be sustained. Ibig sabihin ng pag sustained, nagtutuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas,” Vergeire said in a media briefing.

(We observed a slight increase in cases. Despite this, this is not observed to be sustained. This means that the increase is not continuous.)

According to Vergeire, the country recorded an average of 197 new cases from June 2 to June 8, which is 9% higher compared to last week.

Meanwhile, the national positivity rate increased to 1.3%.

Despite this, the average daily attack rate remained at less than 1 per 100,000 population.

Vergeire reported that national admissions also remained at a plateau with a slight increase from 4,820 to 5,088 admissions. Similarly, she said ICU admissions are also maintained at 16%.

She said the country’s total bed utilization also increased by 1% to 19%.

However, Vergeire said a COVID-19 surge is not likely when asked about a research firm’s remark that the situation in Metro Manila has become more concerning.

“Yes, we have said and we have flagged na may pagtaas ng mga numero ng kaso sa iba’t ibang lugar sa ating bansa, including NCR. And yes, we are concerned na maaari itong magkaroon ng tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas kung hindi tayo patuloy na mag iingat,” she said.

(Yes, we have said and we have flagged that there is an increase in the number of cases in other areas in the country, including NCR. And yes, we are concerned that this could continue if we are not careful.)

“Pero ‘yung para masabi natin na tumaas siya ngayon at magkaka-surge na tayo or tataas na in the coming days ay sa tingin ko po ay hindi naman mukha mangyayari at hindi ganon ka bilis,” she added.

(But to for us to stay that it increased now and we will have a surge in the coming days— I think that is unlikely and it will not occur that fast.)

Vergeire reminded that the threat of the subvariants is present, saying that the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are causing the increase of cases in other countries.

“Kailangan tayo lahat tuloy-tuloy ang pagpapatupad, pag practice ng minimum public health standards, most specially your mask and most specially magpabakuna… o di kaya magpa booster na kayo,” he said.

(We need to continue practicing minimum public health standards, most especially the wearing of face masks and most especially getting vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.)

At present, 69.7 million Filipinos have been fully-vaccinated against COVID-19, 77.4% of the target population.

Meanwhile, 9.4 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 have been inoculated against the virus while more than 3 million minors aged 5 to 11  have been vaccinated.

A total of 14.5 million individuals have received their booster shots while more than 500,000 healthcare workers, immunocompromised individuals, and senior citizens have received their second booster.—LDF, GMA News