Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) — The Department of Health (DOH) said the country’s healthcare system has yet to reach its saturation point despite “gradual” increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told a virtual press briefing on Wednesday that even though the number of cases is rising, the increase is gradual and not abrupt.
This means the current health system can manage the increase in cases, Vergeire said.
She added that the national daily tally of infections has stabilized.
Vergeire, however, said more cases are expected as the country re-opens its economy, relaxed its restrictions and increased its testing capacity.
The DOH recorded on Tuesday the country’s highest single-day rise in COVID-19 cases — 1,150 new infections.
Vergeire said attention should be given to emerging hot spots, namely Cebu City, Cebu Province, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Leyte, and Samar, due to the fast rate at which cases increase.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday appointed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to handle the COVID-19 response in Cebu City, which is now under enhanced community quarantine. All quarantine passes in the city have been cancelled.
As of June 23, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City is 4,160; 883 in Cebu Province; 38 in Ormoc City; 33 in Southern Leyte; 130 in Leyte; and 61 in Samar.
In terms of the number of tests, Vergeire said a total of 594,499 tests were conducted as of June 20 — 86,191 of which were done this week. An average of 12,348 are done daily, she added.
Meanwhile, the country’s positivity rate is at 6.9%, which means testing is adequate and the transmission of the virus is slower, while reproduction number — or the number of additional cases per infected individual — is now near 1 from 2 infected persons at the start of the pandemic.
On the country’s fatality rate, Vergeire said that as of June 23 the rate is at 3.73%, as against the ASEAN average of 2.94%, and the global average of 5.22%.
She said this is also a good indicator that the country’s health system is able to handle COVID-19 cases.
As of June 24, the country’s infection tally is 32,295 with the addition of 470 new cases. Recoveries are at 8,656, while death toll is at 1,204.
