Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) — The Department of Health said Friday it is looking into the reason behind the recent drop in COVID-19 tests conducted in seven regions, including Metro Manila.
“We are assessing the reasons for this decline and if this reflects a true decline in cases or just affected by the other factors such as ongoing active case finding and contact tracing and the use of antigen (test) to complement the RT-PCR testing,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media briefing.
Vergeire noted that aside from the National Capital Region, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga conducted fewer tests this week compared to the previous week.
The National Capital Region saw the “largest decline” with a 10% drop — from 287,548 samples tested to 258,047, Vergeire added.
The health official said the department is seeking to find out if the decrease in reported cases were “largely affected by the rapid and large decline in RT-PCR laboratory output.”
The Philippines recorded a daily average of 18,708 infections from Sept. 17 to 23 — an 8% decrease from the 20,370 tallied the week prior.
Before cases dipped, the country’s daily infections hit a new peak. On Sept. 6 to 12, the DOH logged an average of 20,959 cases per day, double the previous peak recorded on March 29 to April 4, which was 10,431.
