THE Department of Health yesterday projected the upward trend in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases will continue and may jump to as high as 19,000 daily by the end of August.
“Based on our latest projections and our current case trends, the number of detected cases at the national level are projected to be on a continuous uptrend. (We) estimate 19,306 cases (being) reported daily by August 31,” the DOH said in a brief statement.
Worse, the DOH said, is that severe and critical cases may also increase until October if preventive measures are not undertaken.
“Our latest projections are showing that these case increases may translate to a spike in total and ICU admissions in October if compliance with minimum public health standard (MPHS) continues to decline and booster rates remain low,” it said.
It said the projected 19,306 cases could go lower at about 6,194 to 8,346 cases if the vaccination and booster rates go higher and MPHS compliance is strictly observed.
To break the uptrend, the DOH appealed to the public to continue wearing best-fitting face masks when in public places, isolating and informing close contacts when sick, ensuring good airflow when in close spaces, and getting vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
“If such factors will be adhered to and implemented immediately, a decline in cases may be observed sooner,” said the DOH.
Based on the latest data, the country had an average of 2,791 cases daily for the period of July 18 to 24. The DOH has projected that the daily figures could breach the 3,000-mark by the end of July.
In a related development, the independent OCTA Research said the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) and ICU utilization rates in some parts of the country have gone up.
The OCTA said that healthcare use in the National Capital Region (NCR) went up to 31.7 percent (July 24) from 30.7 percent (July 17), while ICU utilization climbed to 27.3 percent (July 24) from 24 percent (July 17).
Both, however, are still at “low” risk classification,
On the other hand, the ICU utilization in Lucena City went up to “moderate” risk classification at 60 percent from 50 percent.
The HCUR of the province of Iloilo, meanwhile, remained at moderate risk classification after inching to 52.4 percent from 52.1 percent.
Similarly, Bohol’s healthcare use is still at moderate risk classification despite declining to 57.7 percent from 59.9 percent.
