The Philippines continues to see fewer number of Covid-19 cases as the daily number of infections drop below 150, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday, May 13.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the country’s current daily case figure already “breached” the lowest recorded average prior to the Omicron experience.
“National cases continue to decline, currently averaging 146 cases per day, breaching the lowest recorded average prior to Omicron peak at 254,” said Vergeire during a press briefing on Friday, May 13.
“National and majority of the regions are at minimal-risk case classification,” she added. Also, the country’s healthcare utilization remains at low-risk.
Meanwhile, Vergeire urged the public to continue following the minimum public health standards and complete their vaccination as there is still a possibility that cases may increase again.
Based on their latest projection, the number of cases in Metro Manila alone may reach 15,000 per week by June if compliance to health protocols will decrease and if people will not complete their vaccination, particularly the booster shots.
“Maaring umabot ang average cases per week ng almost 15,000 na halos kasing taas ng 17,643 recorded cases during the Omicron peak (The average cases per week could reach almost 15,000 which is almost as high as the 17,643 recorded cases during the Omicron peak),” said Vergeire.
“Ang ating Covid-19 admissions naman ay maaring umabot ng 5,500 to 9,900 which is two to three times higher than reported during both delta and omicron peaks. Samantala ang ICU admissions naman ay tinatanyang aabot sa 1,100 to almost 2,000 admissions (Our Covid-19 admissions can reach 5,500 to 9,900 which is about two to three times higher than what was reported during both Delta and Omicron peaks. Meanwhile, ICU admissions are estimated at 1,100 to almost 2,000 admissions),” she added.
Having a complete vaccination against Covid-19 will not only protect a person from the disease but it can also help in preventing cases to increase, said Vergeire.
“Pinupunto lang po ng projections ang kahalagahan ng minimum public health standards at pagpapabilis ng pagbabakuna hindi lang ng booster doses kung hindi primary series (The projections only point to the importance of minimum public health standards and speeding up vaccination, not just booster doses but the primary series as well),” said Vergeire.
Vergeire also emphasized that “new variants have initial evidence of increased transmissibility and potential to be immune escaping.”
“We cannot sustain the ‘bubble of protection’ afforded to us by both natural infection and the two doses of vaccines, because of waning immunity. We have to keep our protection up-to-date by getting booster shots,” she said.