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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Increase in Covid-19 cases far from figures during pandemic's height - DOH

Increase in Covid-19 cases far from figures during pandemic's height - DOH

Published May 2, 2023 08:16 am
Despite the slight increase in Covid-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, May 2, that it's not the same as numbers recorded during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In a media briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that the increase in Covid-19 cases being observed does not translate to increased hospital admissions; severe and critical cases; and deaths. The country's healthcare utilization rate remains at low risk. According to Vergeire, this is due to the reinforced wall of immunity from vaccination. She pointed out that the increase in cases is due to a multitude of factors. One of which that she mentioned is the virus' mutation, producing subvariants such as the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 or Arcturus. She also cited the public's behavior and mobility such as summer excursions which lead to continuous interactions that allow an increased likelihood of transmitting the disease. Lastly, she added that the practice of getting tested when feeling symptoms contributes to the increase in the positivity rate. "Now, do we see this number of cases continuing to increase in this next month or so at kailan siya bababa? It will all depend on our behavior," she explained. Based on current projections, Vergeire stated that the country will continue to experience an increase in Covid-19 cases until June up to 600 cases, and after that, she said that DOH hopes that cases will start to decrease. Meanwhile, she also stated that there is a need for the country to advance the level of its risk tolerance from Covid-19. In terms of vaccination, Vergeire reported that as of March 20, at least 78.4 million individuals, or 100.44 percent have been fully vaccinated while or 23.8 million or 30. 49 percent have received their first booster shots and 4.4 million have acquired a second booster shot. On the other hand, 10.2 million, or 114 percent of adolescents have been fully vaccinated while 1.2 million have received booster shots. For children aged 5 to 11 years old, 5.6 million or 51 percent have been fully vaccinated. For senior citizens, 7.2 million, or 82 percent have been fully vaccinated while 2.9 have received booster doses.

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department of health covid-19 case increase DOH OFFICER-IN-CHARGE department of health secretary DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire covid-19 Department of Health (DOH)
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