OCTA says areas have high incidence rates
TWENTY-SEVEN local government units (LGUs) nationwide, including 11 in Metro Manila, have been classified as “critical” because of the high incidence rate of COVID-19 cases, according to OCTA Research, a group monitoring the COVID-19 situation.
In its monitoring report covering the period August 11 to 17, OCTA said the 27 LGUs were tagged “critical” after these reached average daily attack rates (ADARs) of at least 25 cases per 100,000 population.
Amid the continued rise in cases, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire urged the public to use medical grade masks, in accordance with the advise of the World Health Organization, but said cloth masks are not being prohibited because these “can still give protection.”
“When we are in high-risk settings, such as increasing cases and detection of highly transmissible variants, the interim recommendation is to wear surgical masks instead of cloth masks,” she said in a briefing. “Let us use surgical masks so that we can be more protected.”
Vergeire said the change in the interim recommendation is based on scientific evidence which shows medical masks have “certain layers that can filter various organisms in a specific particulate sizes.”
The OCTA report said the 27 critical LGUs are Tuguegarao (57.11 ADAR), Mariveles (52.14), Makati (44.47), Santa Rosa (41.67), Navotas (36.95), Muntinlupa (35.64), Imus (34.91), General Trias (32.07), Malabon (31.53), and Parañaque (31.02), Lapu-Lapu (30.77), Malolos (30.63), Las Piñas (30.59), Tanza (30.22), Cebu City (30.04), Bacoor (29.82), Meycauayan (29.72), Pasay (29.66), Valenzuela (28.98), Cagayan de Oro (28.73), Pasig (28.20), Mandaluyong (27.93), Biñan (27.36), Santa Maria (27.35), San Pedro (27.15), Taguig (26.58), and Cabuyao (25.75).
The Philippines is classified as “high risk,” with an 11.76 ADAR during the said same period, according to OCTA.
The OCTA report also said 18 LGUs, including four in Metro Manila, were classified under “critical risk” because of very high intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rate.
The ICU rate refers to the percentage of use of ICU beds in the LGUs.
With 100 percent ICU occupancy are General Trias, Malabon, Tanza, Meycauayan, Cabuyao, Cainta, and Dasmariñas; Muntinlupa and San Fernando, 98%; Las Piñas and Bacoor, 93%; Antipolo 92%; Tuguegarao 91%, Davao City 90%; Taguig 88%; Cebu City 87%; Calamba 86%; and Cagayan de Oro 85%.
The ICU rate nationwide is at “high risk,” at 71 percent, according to OCTA.
With healthcare facilities and hospitals beginning to be filled with COVID-19 patients, Vergeire reminded the public that not everyone is allowed to undergo home quarantine.
“There are conditions to being allowed home quarantine. They include having their own rooms, comfort rooms, has no senior citizens or other vulnerable individuals in the household, and can be monitored by their LGUs,” she said.
