Quezon City, 8 cities downgraded to moderate COVID risk

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City has been downgraded to “moderate risk” category amid the continued decline in new COVID-19 cases in the past week, the OCTA Research Group reported yesterday.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), OCTA said Quezon City recorded an average of 312 COVID-19 cases per day from May 14 to 20, down 24 percent from the previous week.

The research group said the city posted an average daily attack rate of 9.91 COVID infections per 100,000 population, below the 10 cases per 100,000 threshold set by the DOH in order for a local government unit (LGU) to be classified as high risk.

As of yesterday, Quezon City logged 92,551 COVID-19 cases, with 4,067 active, 87,410 recoveries and 1,074 deaths.

Mayor Joy Belmonte earlier said the city government had ramped up its testing capacity to trace even asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.

“While we are treating and isolating COVID-19 patients to curb the spread of the virus, we expanded our testing to determine not just symptomatic patients but also asymptomatic ones,” Belmonte said.

Eight other LGUs in Metro Manila were considered moderate risk for COVID-19 based on the average daily new cases in the past seven days. These are Navotas, Malabon, Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, Muntinlupa, Taguig and Valenzuela.

According to OCTA, the average number of new COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila decreased to 1,299 per day from May 14 to 20, down 25 percent from the preceding week. The healthcare utilization rate in the National Capital Region is considered safe at 48 percent.

PNP medical force

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has deployed members of the PNP Medical Reserve Force (MRF) to COVID-19 vaccination centers in Quezon City.

At least 15 MRF personnel were assigned at the San Francisco High School, Project 6 Elementary School and Masambong Elementary School.

The MRF members, all graduates of medical-related courses, will assist vaccinators in administering COVID-19 shots as well as prevent long lines and overcrowding at vaccination centers, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said. – Emmanuel Tupas