There should be no room for complacency even if the number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) remained in a downward trend, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday, June 27.

In a radio interview on Sunday, DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega was asked if the quarantine restriction in the Metro Manila can be eased now since the cases are currently declining. Vega, however, said that the NCR is not "out of the woods yet."

“Personally, medyo wala pa tayo sa out of the woods. Hindi pa tayo nakalabas talaga kasi yung gradual decrease natin dahan dahan pang bumababa.At saka may variant of concern, yung sinasabi nilang Delta variant. Although wala pa sa local setting pero ito talaga yung babantayan natin (Personally, we are not out of the woods yet. We haven't really come out yet because the decrease is in a gradual manner. Also, there is a variant of concern--- the Delta variant. Although it is not yet in the local setting, we are closely monitoring it),” said Vega.

“Kaya huwag tayong...not off the guard. Huwag tayong magkumpinyasa talaga. Although bumababa, hindi natin masabi na talagang mawawala na iyan (So let's not be caught off guard. Let's not be complacent. Although it is declining, we can't really say that the transmission will stop),” he added.

Currently, the NCR was placed under the general community quarantine (GCQ) with “some restrictions” until the end of June.

Meanwhile, Vega said that areas outside NCR were still experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases. These areas include Legaspi, Naga, Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Caraga, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos), Davao region, and the Zamboanga area.

“Dahan dahan na tumataas (ang mga kaso) doon. Kaya ang aming focus ngayon ay nasa provinces (The cases are slowly increasing there. So our focus now is on the provinces),” said Vega.

Among the factors that contributed to rise in cases in those areas include the presence of coronavirus variants, particularly the Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Beta (B.1.351); and increased mobility of people, among others, said Vega.

The DOH has already distributed medical equipment to the areas where a spike in cases has been recorded to increase their healthcare system capacity.

“May WHO (World Health Organization), nagbigay sila ng donation lalong lalo na itong mechanical ventilators. Meron din procured by the government (The WHO donated mechanical ventilators. There are also those procured by the government),” he said.

“May ibang nag-donate din ng BiPAP machines--- maraming mga private personalities, private organizations (Others also donated BiPAP machines --- from private personalities, private organizations),” he added.