After recording the highest single-day coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tally since the pandemic began, the Department of Health (DOH) said that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines are still expected to go higher in the coming weeks.
“Cases may continue to increase in the next weeks due to higher transmissibility of the Delta variant and active case finding in granular lockdowns,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
“While cases are increasing, most remain mild and asymptomatic. Case peak may be higher next week but the percentage of severe and critical (cases is) stable at two to three percent,” she added.
However, Vergeire said that the case trend will still “greatly depend on the further improvement and compliance to minimum public health standards, shortening interval between detection and isolation, faster vaccine deployment, and the granular lockdowns that we are all doing right now.”
The country logged 22,366 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, Aug. 30---the highest number of new infections recorded on a single day since the start of the pandemic.
“There were new higher peaks every week since cases started to swiftly increase in the fourth week of July,” said Vergeire.
“Looking at the case increase we experienced last March to April, the highest peak was observed in the sixth week after cases started to increase at the end of February. If the same pattern will occur this time around, we may see cases peak mid-September,” she added.
Vergeire said that 12 out of the 17 regions of the country are now classified under the “high-risk” category for COVID-19.
These are the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao, Ilocos Region, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.
Alert Level 4
The following areas are under “Alert Level 4” as their risk classification for COVID-19 is “moderate to critical” while their healthcare utilization rate is now over 70 percent.
NCR: Malabon, Navotas, Pateros, Marikina, Taguig, Quezon City, Makati, San Juan, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Pasay, Pasig, Valenzuela
Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province
Ilocos Region: Dagupan City, La Union, Ilocos Norte
Cagayan Valley: Cagayan, City Of Santiago, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino
Central Luzon: Angeles City, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales
Calabarzon: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal
Mimaropa: Occidental Mindoro
Bicol Region: Camarines Sur, Masbate, Naga City, Sorsogon
Western Visayas: Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City
Central Visayas: Bohol, Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City
Eastern Visayas: Ormoc City, Tacloban City
Zamboanga Peninsula: Zamboanga Del Sur, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay
Northern Mindanao: Bukidnon, Cagayan De Oro City, Camiguin, Lanao Del Norte, Misamis Oriental
Davao Region: Davao City, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental
Soccsksargen: North Cotabato, General Santos City, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat
Caraga: Agusan Del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao Del Norte
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur