Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28) — Filipinos should not panic even as Metro Manila and other areas recently recorded a slight uptick in new COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.
“I would not like people to fear or to panic…We should all be cautious and aware that cases are having this slight increase,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
She reiterated her advice to people to follow safety protocols, and get vaccinated against COVID-19.
San Juan, Las Pinas, Manila, Makati, Parañaque, Apayao, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Sur saw an increase in cases in the past two weeks, Vergeire said on Monday.
Holiday shopping and gatherings may have caused the spike in new infections, Vergeire said.
“People went out, went shopping, had gatherings, reunions, and these might be the cause of this uptick in the number of cases, although we are still monitoring,” she said.
“We need about one week to determine if there is a sustained increase in the number of cases in the country,” she added.
Vergeire said most areas remain under “minimal risk” for COVID-19. But overall, the country is currently at “low risk” for infection.
