14 regions at minimal risk for COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen of the 17 regions in the country are at minimal risk for COVID-19 as active cases continue to go down, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

In a press briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosaro said only three regions – Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Autonomous Region and Zamboanga peninsula – remain at low risk. 

“Nationally, we remain a minimal risk case classification, with a two-week growth rate of negative 58 percent and a low risk average daily attack rate of .53 cases for every 100,000 people,” Vergeire said.

She said the national health systems capacity is at low risk, except for Davao, which recorded 62.11 percent, a moderate risk classification.

The utilization of COVID-19 beds, mechanical ventilators and intensive care unit beds were at 20.43 percent, 14.15 percent and 26.38 percent, respectively.

Vergeire said hospital admissions of COVID-19 cases have also dropped, although the fall has slowed down in recent weeks.

“It is currently at low risk utilization at 20 percent capacity compared to July or prior to when cases started to peak,” she said.

3 provinces monitored

While all regions in the country remain under Alert Level 2, Vergeire said three provinces are under monitoring for showing a “positive” one-week and two-week growth rates in infections.

She said Eastern Samar, Samar and Zamboanga Sibugay have experienced a rise in infections during the period.

DOH records show that Eastern Samar is at moderate risk while Samar and Zamboanga Sibugay are at low risk.

“All of these three provinces maintain an average daily attack rate of less than one per 100,000 population and low utilization rates that still remain under alert level,” Vergeire said. 

Alert Level 2 means that COVID-19 cases in an area are increasing but remain low while 50 percent of its healthcare capacity is being utilized.