
The Department of Health (DOH) said that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines increased by 31 percent in the past week amid the threat of the more contagious Delta coronavirus variant.
“National cases saw an increase in the recent week,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday, Aug. 13.
She noted that cases from Aug. 6 to 12 recorded 10,459 cases per day. This is an increase of 2,472 cases or “31 percent compared to the previous week (July 30 to Aug. 5) of 7,987 cases,” Vergeire said.
Vergeire said that the country remains under high-risk classification for COVID-19.
“We have noted that all areas are showing an increase in cases. National Capital Region (NCR) and NCR plus areas (Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan) are showing a steep increase. The rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are exhibiting a slight increase in the number of cases,” said the DOH Spokesperson.
She specifically flagged regions including NCR, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Western Visayas---as these areas continue to exhibit a spike in cases.
Vergeire urged the public to strictly adhere to the minimum public health standards.
“The Delta variant spreads faster and can quickly infect more people. But implementation of minimum public health standards and all COVID-19 vaccines continue to show protection,” she said.