THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country continue to surge and is now averaging over 1,300 per day, as the independent OCTA Research group said that the positivity rate in Metro Manila and seven provinces are now at “high” levels.
In its latest COVID-19 case bulletin, the DOH reported there was an average of 1,352 cases daily, or a total of 9,465, during the period May 1 to 7.
The figure is 112 percent higher than infections reported during the seven-day period of April 24 to 30, which was only at an average of 637 cases daily.
The DOH said the current daily average is the highest since the week of November 7 to 13, where cases averaged at 1,296 per day.
The DOH bulletin showed there were 50 additional severe and critical cases and nine deaths reported during the past week.
Hospital beds
There are now 410 severe and critical cases throughout the country, as of May 7, of which 346 are occupying ICU beds, or 16.5 percent of the 2,097 total nationwide.
On the other hand, there are 3,766 patients occupying COVID-19 beds, or 21.2 percent of the 17,758 total COVID-19 beds allocated nationwide.
OCTA said that as of May 6, the positivity rate in the National Capital Region has climbed to 22.7 percent, from 17.2 percent on April 29, raising its classification level from medium to high.
Also going up to high classification are Camarines Sur (45.1% from 39.7%), Rizal (38.8% from 28.5%), Cavite (35.3% from 28%) Isabela (25.9% from 16.7%), Laguna (23.8% from 18.5%), Batangas (23.2% from 11.2%), and Bulacan (20.1% from 10.4%).
OCTA said the positivity rates in eight provinces have also increased to the “moderate” level. These are Negros Occidental (14.4% to 19%), Pampanga (12.1% to 19%), Benguet (11.5% to 17.4%), Pangasinan (7.5% to 13.6%), Zamboanga del Sur (9.1% to 13%), Palawan (10.6% to 11.7%), South Cotabato (7.2% to 11.5%), and Iloilo (5.5% to 9.7%).
Cebu (12.3% to 12.3%) maintained its moderate positivity rate from the previous week, while Misamis Oriental (12.9% to 12.7%) and Davao del Sur (8.6% to 7.5%) are seeing a slight drop in their positivity rates.
Positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for the virus out of the overall number of those who have been tested.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the threshold for positivity rate for COVID-19 at 5 percent, which means the transmission is under control.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said the lifting of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to COVID-19 means that it can already be considered as endemic in the Philippines.
“The declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) as no longer being a public health emergency tells us that it is already becoming endemic. This means that COVID-19 is becoming an endemic disease that can be prevented with vaccines and masking, and can be cured with treatments,” said Salvaña in a televised public briefing on Monday.
Being endemic means that COVID-19’s impact to public health is already controllable, Salvaña also said.
“Much like dengue and flu, it increases in number, it goes with the season. But we can already predict what will happen and prevent it from happening,” he also said.
The WHO declared COVID-19 as a global health emergency on January 30, 2020. After more than three years, it ended the global emergency status on May 5.
Salvaña stressed that being endemic does not mean that the public should already let their guards down against COVID-19, adding that the public must keep in mind the protocols and measures necessary to avoid acquiring the virus.
“This does not mean that we can let our guards down. We cannot be complacent. COVID being endemic means we should already know how to protect ourselves,” he said, adding: “We should not be that afraid of COVID-19 anymore as long as we are vaccinated, wear our face masks, and know other measures needed to protect us.”
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), and the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) said they will continue to minimum public health standards, such as the wearing of face masks, in their respective businesses.
HRAP president Eugene Yap, at a press conference announcing the Philippine Furniture Market Futures Outlook, said that “mask is still an important part, especially in our food serving areas.”
PHOA executive director Benito Bengzon Jr. and PRA president Paul Santos said they will continue to follow the guidelines issued by the government and abide by the minimum public health standards. — With Irma Isip
