DOH lists 5 areas in NCR under moderate risk

Metro Manila, June 27 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) said five areas in Metro Manila are placed under the moderate risk classification for COVID-19.

"Sa ngayon, dito sa National Capital Region, we have five areas under moderate-risk classification," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a public briefing. The areas include Pasig, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina, and Pateros, she confirmed. "Kaya sila napunta sa moderate-risk case classification dahil nag-umpisa po tayo sa mga mababang kaso noong mga past weeks tapos bigla silang nagkaroon ng mga kaso. That's why their growth rate began to increase, nagkaroon ng more than 200%," Vergeire explained. However, she stressed that the basis in classifying areas for COVID-19 risk depends on their matrix which includes the two-week growth rate, average daily attack rate, and hospital utilization rate. "'Pag tinignan ho natin, even though moderate-risk case classification itong limang areas, isa lang po sa kanila ang may medyo pagtaas ng pag-admit sa ospital and the rest are less than 50%," she said.

The health undersecretary, though, stressed there is nothing to worry as she advised the public to remain vigilant. She added that for now, there is no need yet to raise the alert level in NCR. "Escalation to Alert Level 2, hindi pa ho natin nakikita although we cannot say. Kung by next week, biglang nagtaasan, that's the time that we are going to decide, and it's going to be IATF (Inter-agency Task Force) to decide," Vergeire said. Meanwhile, the DOH recently noted that daily COVID-19 cases in the metro may reach up to 1,500-2,000 by the end of July. Vergeire cited the entry of Omicron subvariants in the country, the public's compliance with minimum public health standard which she said decreased by as much as 21%, and waning immunity as the reasons for this projection.

Source: cnnphilippines.com