The number of areas under the highest COVID-19 alert has increased to 54 on Saturday as the country logged 14,249 new cases—the second-highest since the start of the pandemic in March last year.
“We are seeing a spike in cases,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. “It is important to continue our preparations and cut the transmission in the community.”
The highest number of daily cases was recorded on April 2 at 15,310.
Yesterday’s tally marked the fourth consecutive day that over 12,000 new cases were recorded, bringing the total to 1,727,231. This pushed the number of active cases to 98,847—the highest recorded since April 23.
According to the OCTA Research Group, the reproduction number of COVID-19 in Metro Manila has gone up to a critical 1.85 – which means one positive patient could infect two other people.
The country’s reproduction number, on the other hand, stood at 1.45.
On Friday, the Department of Health said all areas in Metro Manila are now classified as either high-risk or critical for COVID-19.
Under Alert Level 4 the cities of Las Piñas, Malabon, Makati, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, San Juan, Quezon City, Taguig, and Valenzuela and the municipality of Pateros.
Under Alert Level 3 were Caloocan, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasay and Parañaque.
Navotas and Pateros were classified as critical risk in terms of two-week virus growth rate at 352.25 percent and 266.35 percent, respectively.
In Pasay City, the local government announced that the emergency room of the Pasay City General Hospital was temporarily closed as the facility’s ward for COVID-19 patients recorded a 90 percent occupancy rate.
“Please bear with us, we are now overwhelmed at the ER. Please redirect all transfers to One Hospital Command for assistance. Once we convert our probable wards to confirmed beds, we will advise that we can again accept positive patients for admission,” it said in an advisory.
Ospital ng Biñan in Laguna appealed for additional nurses and doctors as it reached full capacity for COVID-19 cases.
“Our nurses and doctors here at Ospital ng Biñan are all exhausted. But we will not surrender,” said the hospital’s medical director, Dr. Melbril Alonte.
“The Ospital ng Biñan’s total capacity is 50 beds. But we’re already full and some are already outside, in the hallways, in the parking lot. We’ve reached 100 to 200 patients and it’s really difficult,” he added.
The Philippine General Hospital said it has already expanded its bed capacity to take in more COVID-19 patients.
“On Friday, we had a record 254 based on our latest count of COVID patients, so we had to add more beds. Now, we’re working on adding about 50 beds to make it 300,” said PGH spokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario.