
The Philippines continue to record a low number of new Covid-19 cases per day.
Based on the Department of Health's (DOH) Covid-19 tracker, only 256 cases were confirmed on Friday, Jan. 20. This was slightly higher than the 251 cases on Thursday, Jan. 19.
Most of the new cases in the past two weeks were from Metro Manila with 1,517.
It was followed by Calabarzon with 730, Central Luzon with 368, Cagayan Valley with 314, and Western Visayas with 269.
The average daily number of cases was at 419, as shown in the recent DOH weekly update.
The Philippines' cumulative tally of cases is currently at 4,071,445. The figure includes 3,994,930 recoveries and 65,674 fatalities. The DOH said that 10,841 patients are still battling with Covid-19.
Last Jan. 10, the DOH said that the country may see at least 730 daily cases by Feb. 15 if compliance to minimum public health standards continue to decline and more Covid-19 variants enter the Philippines.
In a recent public briefing, infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said that the projection is unlikely to happen.
There is no significant increase in the number of cases after the holiday activities and the Feast of the Black Nazarene, he said.
Solante also noted that most of the active cases only have mild symptoms.
“Mukhang malayo na itong mangyari na aabot tayo ng 700 per day by February (It seems that it is far from happening that we will reach 700 per day by February),” he said.
“I think more or less at this point in time, by February or by March, makamit na natin iyong mga kaso na hindi na ganoon kataas (cases will no longer be that high),” he added.
However, Solante advised the public to remain on guard.
“At this point, ang situation natin sa bansa in terms of Covid-19, very manageable, bumaba na iyong mga kaso, hindi na napupuno ang mga hospital, pero mayroon pa ring nagka-infection, mayroon pa ring mga high-risk population na puwedeng mag-severe Covid ( the country's situation in terms of Covid-19 is very manageable, the cases have decreased, the hospitals are no longer full, but there are still people who are being infected, there are still high-risk populations that can get severe Covid),” he said.
“Panatilihin natin ang pagsunod ng (Let's keep following the) public health safety protocol kagaya ng pagsuot ng face mask, kapag may sintomas, mag-isolate (such as wearing a face mask; if you have symptoms, isolate),” he added.