DOH: COVID-19 cases rising in Visayas, Mindanao
CNN Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said there have been gradual and sustained increases in COVID-19 infections all over Visayas and Mindanao as the national daily case count continues to rise anew.
“In Visayas, all regions showed gradual increase in cases,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Saturday. “In Mindanao, all regions showed sustained growth in cases, with Regions 10, 11, and Caraga showing faster increase this week compared to the previous week.”
The nationwide daily case tally breached 8,000 again on Friday – the highest in nearly four weeks. Saturday’s record was also high at over 7,000 new infections.
The OCTA research team has also warned that health facilities in Davao and Zamboanga are starting to get overwhelmed.
Both health officials and researchers noted that the increases come despite a downward trend observed in Metro Manila and its neighboring areas.
“For NCR and Plus Areas, the numbers continue to go down but the rate of decline is slower in recent weeks,” Vergeire pointed out, referring to Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
OCTA researcher Ranjit Rye also said Metro Manila now comprises 50% of the country’s total number of cases, down from the previous 70%. However, there is still room for improvement.
As a precaution, Rye suggested keeping the current general community quarantine status in NCR Plus with heightened restrictions, while tightening domestic travel measures.
