Based on the Department of Health’s projections on COVID-19 numbers, restrictions and quarantine classifications could ease in Metro Manila by Christmas time, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Saturday, October 9.

“So if we will look at our daily cases, we will be averaging about 1,100 cases by November 15, daily cases, dito sa NCR,” she said at the government’s Laging Handa briefing.

If this trend continues, Vergeire said, “Sana ’no, tayo po ay naghohope, that by Christmas time, magkakaroon po tayo ng mas maluwag na classification and restrictions.

(So if we will look at our daily cases, we will be averaging about 1,100 cases by November 15, daily cases in NCR…. Hopefully, we’re hoping, that by Christmas time, there will less strict classifications and restrictions.)

When asked if children would be able to leave their homes during the holidays, Vergeire said while this is a possibility based on their current case data, this may happen only if the government can start vaccinating kids with comorbidities and if the country’s vaccine supply remains stable.

The COVID-19 vaccinations among minors aged 12 to 17 who have underlying medical conditions will begin on October 15 in pilot areas in the Metro Manila.

Restrictions have already been eased for adults who have been fully vaccinated and minors in the capital region. Fully vaccinated people over 65, people with comorbidities, and pregnant women are allowed to have point-to-point interzonal travel in areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ.

The number of new confirmed cases in the Philippines has decreased since September’s record high of 26,303. As of Friday, there were 10,670 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Responding to questions about attack rate and hospital utilization rate, Vergeire explained that even though there are less people being infected, there is still a large number of the population that is affected.

“While the cases are going down, ang ospital po talaga nahuhuli talaga sa pag-decongest, because these individuals na nasa ospital, specifically sa ICU, mas matagal sila naglalagi sa ospital, it can be 21 days or more,” she said.

(While the cases are going down, the hospitals really take a while to decongest, because these individuals who are in hospitals, specifically the ICUs, stay for longer, it can be 21 days or more.)

The Philippines has had a total of 2,643,494 total confirmed COVID-19 cases, 39,232 COVID-19-related deaths, and 2,486,059 recoveries since the pandemic began. – Rappler.com