Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5) — The recent increase of COVID-19 cases in the country does not indicate that there is need to reinforce lockdowns, a member of the independent OCTA Research said Friday.
“Although tumataas yung mga kaso, hindi naman napupuno yung mga hospital. We’re not in danger of, for example, (imposing) lockdowns,” OCTA Research fellow Guido David said during the Laging Handa briefing.
[Translation: Although the cases are increasing, the hospitals are not fully occupied. We’re not in danger of, for example, imposing lockdowns.
“Wala tayong danger of lockdown pero may mga taong mahahawaan and kung gusto nila ma-prevent yung hawaan, then, they can opt to protect themselves with [wearing] face masks or observing other health protocols,” he added.
[Translation: We have no danger of lockdown but there are people who can get infected and if they want to prevent the infection, then, they can opt to protect themselves with wearing face masks or observe other health protocols.]
David also said the healthcare utilization is expected to maintain at a low level at 24%.
“Ang magandang balita, yung healthcare utilization, we don’t expect na tataas to critical levels. We don’t expect na aabot ‘yan sa 40%,” David said.
David on Thursday said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region could “go as high as 25%,” the same level during the Delta wave in 2021.
READ: OCTA: NCR positivity rate could reach same level as Delta wave by next week
In its latest bulletin, the Department of Health (DOH) logged 4,456 new COVID-19 cases, which has an average of 637 daily cases.
DOH reported that the daily recorded cases from April 24 to 30 is 42% higher than the previous week.
The health department also advised hospitals to prepare COVID-19 wards amid the recent spike in the number of cases.
