Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14) — The country’s COVID-19 risk case classification has been downgraded from “moderate” to “low” amid the decline in new infections, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported on Monday.
During a televised Cabinet meeting, Duque said the country is now deemed at “low risk,” along with 13 out of 17 regions nationwide, including Metro Manila.
He said the reclassification was made after the nation logged a -74% growth rate in cases from Feb. 1 to 14 compared to Jan. 18 to 31.
Duque added that the average daily attack rate, or the number of infected people per 100,000 population, fell to 5.26 in the last two weeks, from the 20.6 recorded during the Jan. 18 to 31 period.
According to the Department of Health, only four regions are at “moderate risk.” These are the Davao region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Western Visayas, and Soccsksargen.
In terms of healthcare utilization rates, which include bed occupancy, and use of mechanical ventilation and intensive care units, Duque said the country and most of its regions are also now at low risk. This means utilization rates are at less than 50%.
Only the Davao region’s ICU occupancy remains at moderate risk at 63.9%.
“Ang sinasabi po nito [This shows] we are able to manage our cases, and our health systems capacity is very much prepared for any eventuality, na kung magkaroon na naman saka-sakali ng pagtaas, makikita po natin ang laki po ng ating excess [and that in case of another rise in infections, we have a lot of excess available facilities],” Duque said.
Official figures showed the country currently has 76,609 active cases, or 2.1% of the 3.63 million infections tallied since the start of the pandemic. The death toll has reached 55,094, while recoveries are at over 3.5 million.
