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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH COVID-19 situation still 'fragile' despite low-risk classification

PH COVID-19 situation still 'fragile' despite low-risk classification

Published Jul 3, 2021 01:10 pm

A soldier wearing a face mask holds on his weapon as he guards an empty street following the lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manila, April 24, 2020. (REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Health (DOH) said that the country's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation remains "fragile" despite it being classified as "low risk".

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that some areas in the country are still experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases.

“The national picture, yes, shows us that we are at low risk based on the two-week growth rate and the average daily attack rate,” said Vergeire in a televised briefing on Saturday, July 3.

“Pero pag tiningnan natin ang bawat rehiyon sa ating bansa, makikita natin na may mga rehiyon talaga ngayon na may mga pagtaas ng kaso (But when we look at every region in our country, we can see that there are regions that have increasing number of cases),” she added.

Related story: DOH says PH classification now at 'low risk' for COVID-19

Vergeire said that this “low risk classification should not really be advertised.”

“Hindi dapat ma-encourage ang ating mga kababayan para maging complacent. Ibig sabihin lang, na ma-manage natin ang ating mga kaso ngunit may mga angking pagtaas sa ibang lugar kaya kailangan ay patuloy pa rin ang ating pagiingat (Our citizens should not be encouraged to be complacent. It just means that we can manage our cases but there are increases elsewhere so we need to continue to be vigilant),” she said.

“Our situation is very fragile at this point. Kailangan pa rin natin ituloy-tuloy ang mga isinasagawa nating pagiingat para tuloy-tuloy na bumaba ang mga kaso sa ating bansa (We still need to continue the precautions we are observing so that the number of cases in our country will continue to decrease),” she furthered.

The DOH is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), and Caraga as there are spike in cases, said Vergeire.

“Binabantayan natin hanggang sa ngayon ang Visayas and Mindanao (We are still monitoring Visayas and Mindanao),” she said.

Despite the continuous decline in the daily COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR), its residents should stay vigilant.

“The situation is very fragile. Maraming factors na makaapekto at pwedeng makapagpataas uli ng kaso dito (There are many factors that can affect, causing the cases to rise again),” said Vergeire.

“Another thing would be, yung mga kaso sa ibang lugar ay maaring makaapekto sa NCR because NCR borders are very porous. Kaya kailangan talagang mag-ingat (Another thing would be, the cases in other areas could affect NCR because its borders are very porous. So, we have to be really careful),” she added.

Related Tags

low risk FRAGILE covid-19 Department of Health (DOH)
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