DOH: 5 regions remain at low risk for COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Five regions remain under “low risk” classification for COVID-19, while the rest of the country is now at “minimal risk,” the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

In a press briefing, DOH-Epidemiology Bureau chief Althea de Guzman identified the five regions at low risk classification as Cagayan Valley, the Cordilleras, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), National Capital Region and Zamboanga peninsula.

“Nationally, the risk classification remains low because we were able to maintain the negative two-week growth rate, which is now at negative 45,” De Guzman said.

The country also posted an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 1.02 per 100,000 population.

“This low-risk classification is accompanied by an equally low-risk utilization of healthcare facilities, wherein only 21 percent of our total hospital beds for COVID cases is occupied,” she said.

All regions posted utilization rates of less than 50 percent, both in total and ICU or intensive care unit beds.

But health officials flagged the province of Apayao in the Cordilleras for having a high ADAR, as well as Ilocos Norte and South Cotabato for posting increases in ADAR and two-week growth rate.

“As we slowly loosened our quarantine protocols, we relayed the need to look for signals that will flag the need to heighten our restrictions,” De Guzman said.