COVID-19

DOH classifies Metro Manila as ‘low-risk’ area for COVID-19

Bonz Magsambol

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DOH classifies Metro Manila as ‘low-risk’ area for COVID-19

PANDEMIC-HIT PH. People wearing face shields and face masks cross a pedestrian lane at Monumento, Caloocan City on Thursday, June 17, 2021.

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'Na-classify na po natin siya as low-risk dahil nagpakita po siya nang pagbaba ng kaso by 23% in the last two weeks,' says Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau
DOH classifies Metro Manila as ‘low-risk’ area for COVID-19

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday, June 23, that it has classified virus epicenter Metro Manila as a “low-risk” area due to its decreasing number of COVID-19 cases.

“Para po sa NCR (National Capital Region), na classify na po natin siya as low-risk dahil nagpakita po siya nang pagbaba ng kaso by 23% in the last two weeks,” said Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau.

(For NCR, we already classified it as low-risk because cases have decreased by 23% in the last two weeks.)

DOH classifies Metro Manila as ‘low-risk’ area for COVID-19

De Guzman added that the average daily attack rate (ADAR) of the capital region is only at 5.7, making it a low-risk area.

ADAR is the number of new cases in a city or province over a two-week period, divided by the population of the city or province. ADAR is considered high risk if it is 7 and above.

The higher the ADAR of a place, the higher one’s risk of getting COVID-19.

  • Low risk: ADAR < 1
  • Moderate risk: ADAR 1-7
  • High risk: ADAR > 7

While the DOH classified Metro Manila as low-risk, four regions are now “high-risk”: Caraga, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen in Mindanao; and Western Visayas.

“Ang mga lugar na ito ay nag exhibit ng mas maraming narereport na kasi nitong mga nakaraang dalawang linggo. At ang kanilang mga ADAR ay umabot na sa high-risk,” De Guzman said.

(These areas exhibited a high number of cases in the last two weeks. And their ADAR reached high-risk [level].)

Earlier in June, the DOH already noted the “faster increase” in COVID-19 cases in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as some areas adjacent to Metro Manila.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire had said that the virus transmission in these regions usually happens in workplaces, and not in residential communities. She added that the presence of highly infectious COVID-19 variants is another factor why cases are increasing in provinces.

In its report released on Tuesday, June 22, the Octa Research team noted that 86% to 97% of intensive care unit beds in the cities of Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Tagum, Cotabato, San Pablo, Koronadal, Tuguegarao, and Batangas have been occupied.

As of Tuesday, the Philippines has 1,367,894 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 23,809 deaths and 1,291,389 recoveries. Of the total, 52,696 are active cases or currently sick. – Rappler.com

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Bonz Magsambol

Bonz Magsambol covers the Philippine Senate for Rappler.