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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH: PH's COVID-19 active cases could fall to 6K by mid-December

DOH: PH's COVID-19 active cases could fall to 6K by mid-December

Published Nov 20, 2021 08:49 pm

Some people in Divisoria, Manila are no longer wearing face shield on Nov. 8, 2021, the same day the City of Manila scrapped the face shield policy except in hospital and other medical facilities. (Photo by Noel B. Pabalate)

The Department of Health (DOH) said that it is possible that the country’s number of active COVID-19 cases may further decrease to as low as 6,000 in December if compliance to health protocols is maintained.

It is also possible that the active infections could dip to 12,000 by the end of this month. Currently, the active COVID-19 cases nationwide stood at 22,070.

“For the projections at the national level, in scenarios where the current mobility and compliance to minimum public health standards were maintained, active cases continued to decline and may range from 12,264 to 12,584 active cases by end of November, and 6,071 to 7,301 by December 15,” the DOH said in a statement.

However, if compliance to health protocols will not be maintained, active cases could reach at least 20,000 by next month.

“In these scenarios, active cases may reach up to 18,338 to 19,210 by the end of November and 15,956 to 20,649 by mid-December,” the DOH said.

“The estimated active cases in these scenarios were 1.5 times higher by the end of November and 2.6 times higher by December 15 when compared to the scenarios where the compliance to minimum public health standards was maintained,” it added.

‘Better Christmas’

Despite the continued decline in cases, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there remains a possibility that it could increase again.

Aside from compliance to health protocols, Vergeire urged concerned authorities to continue to improve their detection and isolation of confirmed cases as these are critical steps in mitigating the transmission of COVID-19.

“Kailangan din po nating maalala na kahit na bumababa ang positivity rate natin mayroon pa ring tsansa na tumaas (We also need to remember that even if our positivity rate decreases, there is still a chance that it will increase),” said Vergeire.

“So our hope would be that we will all have a better Christmas, but we need to be compliant with all our protocols,” she added.

Amid the holiday season, Vergeire urged the public to be cautious in holding family gatherings.

“Ganoon pa rin po ang ating ina-advice sa lahat. Unang-una, siyempre may mga bakuna na tayo ngayon so, sana we ensure na lahat ng a-attend doon sa ating (We still give the same advice to everyone. First, of course we have vaccines now, so hopefully, we will ensure that everyone who attends our) family gatherings will be vaccinated,” said the DOH spokesperson.

“Pangalawa (second), as much as possible let us still maintain our family bubble. Kailangan maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na hindi po nawala iyong virus (Our citizens need to understand that the virus has not disappeared yet), so we cannot be complacent,” she added

“So, these kinds of gatherings kailangan maingat pa rin po tayo (we should still all be careful). Do it in outside places, do not do it in crowded or enclosed spaces and as I have said, let’s maintain the safety protocols at saka sana po lahat bakunado (and hopefully all of us are already vaccinated),” she furthered.

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covid-19 Department of Health (DOH)
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