The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, Oct 18, identified Region 9 or the Zamboanga Peninsula as the sole region with high risk classification for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"Most regions are showing negative two week growth rate. However, majority remain with high risk average daily attack rate (ADAR)," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media forum.
"Region 9 is the sole region with high risk case classification," she added.
Nationally, Vergeire said, we are at moderate risk case classification with a TWGR of -44 percent and ADAR at 8.26.
Hospital bed utilization is at 48.87 percent while ICU utilization is at 62.39 percent.
"CAR and Region 2 have total beds and ICU rates at high risk. Six other regions have either bed or ICU at high risk and these areas are Region 9, 11, 3, Caraga, 5 and BARMM," said Vergeire.
"The NCR shows a negative or low risk TWGR and high risk ADAR and is currently at moderate risk case classification," she added.
Meanwhile, Vergeire also stressed the need to continue a strengthened local response in all areas to hammer down on daily cases.
"As we safely reopen the economy, mobility will increase. But maintaining detection-to-isolation intervals at four days or further shortening it can counter its negative impact," she said.
"Ramp up vaccination coverage of the A2 and A3 population which will have most impact on our hospitalizations and fatalities," added Vergeire.
She also appealed to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs) to help regulate the movement of the public in view of the downgrading of the alert level in NCR.
"While we have opened certain establishments, we need to keep in mind that the virus is still here present," Vergeire said.
The health official also reminded the public not to be complacent.
"We hope you can help us so that we can finally see the continued decline in cases. We cannot be complacent at this point," said Vergeire.