The National Capital Region (DOH) continues to experience a rise in its number of new Covid-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
“NCR and plus areas continue to show an upward trend, rest of the areas show plateauing of cases,” the DOH said in its Covid-19 situationer report on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Based on the DOH Covid-19 tracker, Metro Manila remained as the top region with the highest number of new infections in recent two weeks with 13,839 cases.
It was followed by Calabarzon with 5,211 cases, Central Luzon with 2,791, Davao region with 1,313, and Western Visayas with 799.
There were 1,555 new Covid-19 cases recorded nationwide on Tuesday. These cases brought the number of active cases in the country to 38,315.
In a press briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the optional wearing of face masks outdoors is likely one of the factors in the rise in cases in the country.
“That is expected. Gusto natin klaruhin na maraming factors na maaaring rason kung bakit tayo magkakaroon ng Covid-19. Hindi lamang po iisa iyan, maraming pwedeng mag contribute sa pagtaas ng kaso (We want to clarify that there are many factors for us to be infected with Covid-19. It is not just one, there are many factors that can contribute to the increase in cases),” she said.
“Expectedly, cases are increasing because of the increased mobility, because of face-to-face classes, and maybe because of the factor of the optional outdoor masking,” she added.
Vergeire encouraged senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and immunocompromised individuals to still wear their mask outdoors.
Last Sept. 12, the Malacanang announced that the wearing of face masks in “open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation” is already optional.
The country’s cumulative tally of Covid-19 cases stood at 3,941,656. Of this figure, 3,840,492 people have recovered while the death toll was at 62,849.