WITH less than a month before the end of 2023, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country have been on a steady rise, even as it stressed that healthcare utilization rates remain to be at “low risk.”
In a statement, the health department noted that “similar to the observed case increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) cases in the recent months, COVID-19 cases have been steadily rising in the recent weeks.”
Based on its December 4 case bulletin, the DOH reported there was an average of 191 daily cases in the country during the period of November 28 to December 4, which is 10 percent higher than the 174 average daily infections nationwide during the period of November 21 to 27.
The DOH said the increase was not surprising. “Respiratory illnesses, such as influenza and COVID-19 infections, are anticipated to increase during the rainy season and the colder months,” it said.
The DOH said that the increase in cases has yet to be felt in hospitals and other health facilities, pointing out that the health system capacity nationwide remains at low risk, with COVID-19 and ICU beds utilization at 17 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
“We put more value on hospitalizations and severe and critical cases,” said the DOH.
