The National Capital Region (NCR) is now under the "low-risk" category for COVID-19 as cases of the viral illness continue to decline, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said.

"Para sa NCR, siya po ay nakaclassify na natin as low-risk dahil nagpakita siya ng pagbaba ng kaso by 23 percent in the last two weeks at ang kayang ADAR (average daily attack rate) ay nasa 5.7 (cases per 100,000 population) na lamang (For NCR, we have classified it as low-risk because it showed a decrease in cases by 23 percent in the last two weeks and its ADAR is only 5.7 )," said DOH Epidemiology Bureau Director Alethea De Guzman

De Guzman said that the case trend in NCR is “exhibiting a slow decline after a plateau.”

From the previous average of 825 cases on June 9 to 15, cases in NCR went down to 685 during the period of June 16 to 22, she noted.

“We are seeing a larger decline in reported cases,” said De Guzman.

“The goal now is to push it down even further so that we reach our pre-ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) of less than 500 (cases),” she said.

Meanwhile, a “slow downward trend is still observed in Plus areas, with the exception of Laguna which is exhibiting a plateau,” she said. The Plus areas are composed of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite.

COVID-19 cases nationwide

The DOH official, meanwhile, said that the case trend nationally “is showing signs of decline.”

In Luzon, all regions are showing a decrease in cases “with exception of CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) where decline is not yet evident,” said De Guzman.

However, all areas in Visayas are “showing an upward trend” in cases, she said.

Mindanao has also “exhibited a consistent increase in cases since the second week of June,” said De Guzman.

“Region 11, 12, and CARAGA are showing an upward trend in cases. BARMM and Region 10 (are) showing a decreasing trend in cases, while Region 9 showing a plateau in cases,” she said.

De Guzman urged local government units in Visayas and Mindanao to monitor their healthcare utilization rates.

“While there are some improvements in the critical care capacity of Visayas and Mindanao areas, critical care utilization is still reaching high to critical levels, thus, the need for continuous monitoring and immediate augmentation to prevent further increase in deaths,” she said.