MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reported a continuing increase of COVID-19 cases in Visayas and Mindanao regions.
“In Visayas and Mindanao areas, we see a continued increase, higher than the increase we saw and relayed last week,” DOH Epidemiology Bureau chief Dr. Alethea de Guzman explained, noting that 11 regions nationwide recorded rising COVID cases.
According to De Guzman, all Visayas regions showed an upward trend with Western Visayas posting the highest and fastest growth, while Zamboanga peninsula (Region 9) and Northern Mindanao (Region 10) had the highest spike in cases. In Luzon, only Ilocos and Mimaropa posted positive growth.
In cities outside National Capital Region Plus (Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal), OCTA Research Group noted significant one-week growth rates — Davao (93 new cases daily), Puerto Princesa (61), General Santos (48), Butuan (41) and Cebu (36).
Meanwhile, other areas with previous spikes are now on a downward trend, including Zamboanga City and Cagayan de Oro, OCTA Research said.
Health care utilization remained above the critical threshold of 70 percent at Zamboanga City (74 percent), Iloilo City (81 percent), Dasmariñas, Cavite (77 percent), Baguio (72 percent), Butuan (76 percent) and San Fernando, Pampanga (83 percent).
Amid rising numbers in high-risk cities, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) appealed to the national government to include other localities in the list of priority areas for vaccination. – Janvic Mateo, Romina Cabrera