AMID the spiking number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across the country, the positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) has jumped to 21 percent, according to the independent OCTA Research.
In a social media post, OCTA member Guido David said the positivity rate in the NCR increased to 21 percent as of December 17 2023, from only 13.4 percent last December 10.
“This is only the fifth time since 2020 that the positivity rate exceeded 20 percent,” David noted.
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.
David said the jump in the positivity rate is in accordance with the 50 percent increase in the average daily COVID-19 cases reported by the Department of Health (DOH) for the period of December 12 to 18.
The DOH case bulletin showed that during the seven-day period, the country saw an average of 389 new COVID-19 cases daily.
Despite the upward trend in COVID-19 cases, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said this does not translate to higher utilization rate in hospitals.
In a television interview, Herbosa assured the public that the healthcare system is far from being overwhelmed.
“Our cases in the hospitals are not increasing. That means that, even if our numbers of COVID-19 are reportedly higher, our hospitals are not yet getting filled up by cases of COVID-19. I don’t think there will be a larger or huge outbreak that will stress the health system,” said Herbosa.
This was seconded by Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) president Dr. Rontgene Solante who said that he does not see hospitals overflowing with patients with COVID-19.
“We don’t see a scenario wherein hospitals will be on full capacity to the point that they cannot accommodate everybody,” said Solante in a virtual media conference.
Herbosa said most COVID-19 cases in the country are not at severe and critical levels.
He also pointed how a large number of Filipinos have been jabbed with the COVID-19 vaccines.
“The good thing is that the newer varieties of COVID-19 are just like common colds. It’s okay for the people like us that are healthy, but worrisome for people who are elderly or have immune system deficiencies or others with comorbidities,” Herbosa said.
INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Aside from COVID-19, health experts are reminding the public that there are other influenza-like illnesses that are currently causing concern in the healthcare sector.
“With new COVID-19 variants still causing new infections and in co-circulation with other respiratory viruses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and mycoplasma pneumoniae, the possibility of peaks is expected,” said Solante.
“The people should be worried, not only of COVID-19, but all other respiratory illnesses. There are respiratory illnesses, like influenza and other influenza-like illnesses. The common colds, many people are testing and they turn out negative. It turns out to be some other viral condition that causes the colds,” said Herbosa.
SAFETY PROTOCOLS
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) encouraged employers to consider reviving safety protocols in their respective workplaces.
In a press briefing, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that while they are not mandating companies, they are advising them to bring back some policies introduced during the pandemic.
“We are not imposing, we can only recommend. But it is important to maintain safety not just in the workplaces, but also in our households, where we come home after work,” said Laguesma.
This was seconded by Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez, who said they already have existing policies on COVID-19 responses that can provide guidance.
“We already have existing policies. We just need to remind our employers what to do,” said Benavidez in a separate interview.
Laguesma said one possible measure is to adopt flexible work arrangements to minimize the transmission of the virus, pointing out that “we have the Telecommuniting Act, work-from-home arrangements.”
Additionally, Laguesma said workplaces may revive the antigen testing policy for all individuals.
“By our own discretion, if we have symptoms, we can opt to get tested voluntarily,” he said.
