The National Capital Region (NCR) might record up to 40,000 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases daily by the end of September, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

"Based on a set of assumptions, daily cases in NCR for September 30 may range from 16,000 to 43,000," the DOH said in a statement on Thursday, Sept. 2.

"The assumptions used included mobility, public health and healthcare capacities and system, and the public’s adherence to the minimum public health standards (MPHS)," it added.

The DOH said that these figures are "used to guide the government to be better prepared in its COVID-19 response," particularly with the presence of the more transmissible Delta coronavirus variant.

However, this projection is "not cast in stone and can change,” especially with the local government units (LGUs) “implementing targeted granular lockdowns, enhancing active case finding, and fast tracking vaccination,” the DOH said.

"With these high daily case projections, the Department calls on the national government and LGUs to lower the interval between case detection to isolation, strictly monitor the public’s adherence to the MPHS, and further ramp up vaccination coverage to lower our daily cases in NCR," the DOH said.

Meanwhile, the DOH said that "nationwide projections are currently being studied, as assumptions vary greatly per area."

"The DOH also reminded the public to use face masks correctly and consistently, practice physical distancing, and get vaccinated when they become eligible," it said.