Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) — The Quezon City government on Sunday raised its COVID-19 alert level to “yellow” after recording an average of 26 cases per day this week.
On Tuesday, Dr. Rolando Cruz, chief of QC Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (QCESU) told CNN Philippines that the city’s daily average case count has further increased to 35.
The increase, though, is still at a manageable level and hospitals have relatively low admission, he added.
He noted they are currently monitoring cases in all barangays, specifically those that have double-digit numbers like in Batasan Hills in District 2.
Most of those infected are under home quarantine experiencing mild symptoms, and have received their primary and booster shots, he added.
Apart from the increase in cases, the QCESU also observed changes in their average positivity rate and forecasted reproduction number.
“The average positivity rate doubled to 3.10 percent from 1.50 percent on the week of May 27 to June 2,” the local government said. “In addition, the forecasted reproduction number climbed to 3.4 percent from 1.1 percent last week.”
In a Facebook post, the local government clarified that the city remains under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 or at low risk, as per the guidelines of the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
“Ang yellow alert level status ay base sa early warning system ng lungsod upang mas masusubaybayan ang pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 nitong nakalipas na tatlong araw at magabayan ang lokal na pamahalaan para sa agarang pagtugon nito,” it said.
[Translation: The yellow alert level status is based on the city’s early warning system to monitor the uptick in COVID-19 cases in the past three days and to guide the local government to respond to it.]
Cruz added that such system helps them in assessing the pandemic within their city.
“It aids our department as well as our city officials in the systematic monitoring of new cases, analysis of trends, and recommendation of strategic measures to prevent the further spread of infections,” he said.
The COVID-19 cases in the city can spike further in the next two weeks, Cruz added.
He also said the city is preparing for the worst-case scenario, including ramping up testing, with all 66 health centers capable of accommodating such a demand.
Meanwhile, Mayor Joy Belmonte calls on the residents to continue wearing face masks, get vaccinated and boosted, and to remain vigilant.
