THE National Capital Region (NCR) and nine provinces in Luzon are seeing increases in their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) positivity rates, the independent OCTA Research said yesterday.
OCTA data show that in a span of one week or between November 19 and 26, the positivity rates spiked in Ilocos Sur (32.9% from 21.7%), Benguet (27% from 24.7%), Kalinga (23.7% from 15.9%), La Union (22% from 20.7%), and Cagayan (18.2% from 14.4%).
Climbing positivity rates were also recorded in Pangasinan (16.5% from 13.2%), NCR (11.1% from 7.5%), Ilocos Norte (7.8% from 4.7%), Bulacan (7.6% from 5.6%), and Batangas (5.4% from 5.1%).
On the other hand, the OCTA group said 12 provinces in Luzon showed lesser people testing positive for coronavirus during the one-week period.
These areas are Isabela (44.4% from 49.4% to), Tarlac (36.5% from 37.7%), Nueva Ecija (32.9% from 36.2%), Albay (28.5% from 29.9%), Camarines Sur (27.7% from 35.2%), Laguna (13.2% from 13.8%), Rizal (13.2% from 14.7%), Cavite (11.7% from 15.8%), Bataan (9.7% from 13%), Pampanga (8.3% from 10.6%), Quezon (7.2% from 10.5%), and Zambales (6.1% from 6.9%).
In a previous press briefing, Health Undersecretary and Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the positivity rates are not enough basis to assess the COVID-19 trend because these are prone to misinterpretation, especially given the low testing rate in the country.
“We don’t use positivity rate as a measure in our COVID-19 situation. It is easily influenced by different factors. We could be misled if we continue using that,” Vergeire earlier said.
The DOH yesterday said daily cases of COVID-19 over the past seven days barely moved at an average of 1,147, with the total number recorded at 8,032 for the period of November 21 to 27.
“This is 0.3 percent higher than cases reported from November 14 to 20,” said the DOH.
There were five additional severe and critical case during the past week, and 120 deaths.
The DOH said there are currently 599 severe and critical cases in the country, as of November 27, of whom 526 are occupying ICU beds.
The number of occupied ICU beds account for the 21.6 percent of the 2,430 total nationwide.
On the other hand, there are 5,169 patients occupying COVID-19 beds, or 25.2 percent of the 20,508 total COVID-19 beds allocated nationwide.
INCREASE IN CASES
Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante yesterday said the public should expect a continued increase in COVID-19 cases in the country following the entry of the highly transmissible Omicron BQ.1 variant and the low booster uptake, coupled with public festivities during the holiday season.
Last week, the DOH reported that 14 cases of the BQ.1 subvariant have already been detected in the country.
BQ.1, which is considered as a BA.5 sub-lineage, has been tagged as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization.
“As long as we have this BQ.1 and a lot have not received their needed booster doses, then it is expected that infections will rise, there will be uptick of cases and it will be a concern especially for the vulnerable population,” Solante said during an interview with CNN Philippines.
Solante, however, said that cases are not expected to go up as high as the 25,000 to 30,000 daily cases in January this year at the peak of the Delta variant wave since the country now has a higher population immunity.
Another infectious disease specialist, Dr. Edsel Salvaña said he does not see BQ.1 as causing a major surge in COVID-19 cases.
He likewise said he does not see the new subvariant leading to higher severe and critical cases of coronavirus.
In a televised public briefing, Salvaña said: “In any event that it causes increase in cases, we don’t expect it to be a major surge. It will probably not exceed 5,000 cases (daily).”
“Also, majority of these cases, in case of a surge, shall be mild ones, and won’t need hospitalization,” he added.
Salvaña said the BQ.1 subvariant does not differ much from other Omicron subvariants already detected in the past.
“We can see that it possesses additional mutations, such as increasing immune escape capabilities from the vaccines. However, there is no evidence that indicates that this will become more severe,” he said.
To avoid getting infected, Salvaña called on the public to continue wearing face masks to increase their protection against BQ.1.
“We must continue wearing our masks, especially those belonging to the vulnerable population,” he said, adding that getting vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 remains the better option to get protected.
“Protection provided by the current vaccines remain in preventing severe diseases.
Although because of the new subvariant, many will likely have breakthrough infections,” noted Salvaña.
Solante likewise reiterated his call for the public, especially the vulnerable population, to get their required two booster shots to get better protection against severe COVID-19.
He said that while there are positive reviews about the bivalent vaccines that had been developed, it has yet to arrive in the country, and the vulnerable sector could not wait for that.
“Waiting should not be an option because anytime you can get the infection, especially iyung mga vulnerable population natin, ‘yung mga 60 years old and above, iyong may mga comorbidities (Waiting should not be an option because anytime you can get the infection, especially the vulnerable population, the 60 years old and above and those with comorbidities),” he said.
Solante added that at present, it is still the vulnerable population that gets admitted in hospitals due to severe COVID-19 complications. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
