The Philippines remains under low-risk classification for Covid-19 despite recent rise in cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, April 25. There is no need for the public to fear, said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire. "Sa ngayon pa rin ang ating bansa mababa pa rin ang risk natin (Right now, our country is still at low risk)," said Vergeire in a media forum. Hindi po natin kailangan mangamba, kailangan lang aware tayo at vigilant tayo (We don't need to be afraid, we just need to be aware and vigilant)," she added. Vergeire said they are giving more weight on the country's hospital utilization, which is also still at low risk classification. "Rest assured to all of our citizens, nakahanda po ang ating mga ospital, dumaan na po tayo sa ibat-ibang variant lalo na nung time nung Delta natututo na tayo (our hospitals are ready, we have gone through different variants, especially during the time of Delta and we have already learned)," she said. "Ang importante, ang ating mga ospital ay hindi napupuno at ang mga severe at critical hindi dumadami, ang mga namamatay din po ay hindi na dumadami. Tandaan kung paano niyo dapat proteksyunan ang inyong sarili para hindi na kumalat lalo ang sakit na ito (What is important is that our hospitals are not full and the severe and critical cases are not increasing as well as the number of deaths.. We must remember how we should protect ourselves so that this disease does not spread)," she added.

Factors

There are several factors why the country's cases are increasing. This includes the presence of more transmissible variants of the Covid-19 virus and the increased mobility of the people, said Vergeire. Vergeire said the government is "trying to prevent or control" the possible rise in cases and is hopeful not to impose strict restrictions just like in the past years "because this is counterproductive." "We are trying to move away from that mindset na every time na tataas ang kaso kahit hindi naman significant ay tayo ay mag-iimpose ng mga restriction. Tayo ay unti-unting nagbubukas ng ating mga sektoe dahil gusto naman natin na umayos ang ating ekonomiya at mabawasan ang nagugutom sa ating bansa (that every time the case increases, even if it is not significant, we will impose restrictions. We are gradually opening up our sectors because we want our economy to bounce back and reduce the incidence of hunger  in our country)," she said. "Ang gusto natin, moving forward maintindihan ng ating kababayan, the virus is here to stay and itong pagtaas, pagbaba ng kaso, pagkakaroon ng kaso, ito ay talagang expected na natin dahil ang virus hindi mawawala (What we want, moving forward, is for our citizens to understand that the virus is here to stay and this increase and decrease in cases, presence of cases—these are really expected because the virus will not go away)," she added.