THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said cases in Metro Manila, the country’s epicenter of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, went down by 13 percent during the period September 13 until 19.
In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this means that the epidemic curve in the National Capital Region (NCR) is slowing down, with reported cases decreasing by 13 percent compared to the number of cases from September 6 to 12.
She noted the lower NCR average daily cases for the period of September 13 to 19 at 5,136 cases, which she said was less than the regional peak in average daily cases of 5,916 registered from September 6 to 12.
“In the recent week, there is a downward trend seen,” said Vergeire.
But, the health official said, the region will stay under Alert Level 4 because its average daily attack rate (ADAR) remains to be at “high” risk classification at 39.56 per 100,000 population.
Similarly, the two-week growth rate also remains at “moderate” risk at 17 percent increase from the previous two weeks.
“The NCR maintains positive two-week growth rate and a high-risk ADAR,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire also said the DOH has observed a slow down in the average daily cases nationwide during the same period.
Data shows that the average daily cases during the period of September 13 to 19 was lower at 19,963 when compared to the average for September 6 to 12, which was 20,950.
This, Vergeire said, is despite the two-week growth rate and the ADAR of the entire Philippines still at 18 percent (moderate) and 18.56 (high), respectively.
“National and some regions show a slowing down in the increase in cases. However, national case classification remains at high risk,” said Vergeire.
She said a total of 12 regions are currently at high-risk case classification due to high average daily cases, and at moderate two-week growth rates.
These include the NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Caraga, and Central Luzon.
Also in the list are Davao Region, Ilocos Region, Soccsksargen, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bicol Region.
“The rest of Luzon is at a continuous uptrend, NCR Plus areas are showing slight downward trend, while Mindanao and Visayas are at a plateau,” Vergeire said.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said COVID-19 deaths peaked in mid-August, with the country seeing an average of 155 deaths per day in August with the total reaching 4,816.
This is higher than the previous peak of April 2021, where there were 4,060 deaths or an average of 135 deaths per day.
For the first 19 days of September, there have already been 1,888 deaths or 99 daily deaths.
