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Increase in COVID-19 cases outside Metro Manila observed---DOH

Philippines | National

Increase in COVID-19 cases outside Metro Manila observed---DOH

By Analou de Vera

People flock to Ilaya in Binondo, Manila to shop on Jan. 2, 2022. Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 3 starting Jan. 3 until Jan. 15 due to the rise of COVID-19 cases.(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Health (DOH) said that aside from the National Capital Region (NCR), four other regions are experiencing a spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

These regions are Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

“Yes, we’re starting to see spikes in neighboring regions and that is what we have observed," he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, Jan. 12.

“That is why I call upon our regional directors of the Department of Health, DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), local government units in these areas to ramp up more aggressively their vaccination of their citizens proven against severe and critical cases and preventing hospitalization and deaths, and of course MPHS(minimum public health standards),” he added.

Duque said many factors are being considered that are driving COVID-19 transmission and not just because of the Omicron variant.

“It's possible that this is not just because of Omicron but a combination of factors— because of the holiday surge, increased social mobility—it's a combination of factors, not just one,” he said.

Related Tags

covid-19 Department of Health (DOH) spike REGIONS

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