The Department of Health logged 6,297 new COVID-19 cases from March 1 to 7, 2022, as the agency shifted to a weekly bulletin.
This is the first weekly COVID-19 case bulletin issued by the Department since it announced last Tuesday it would “permanently” shift from issuing it daily to a weekly basis, focusing on active severe and critical infections and the intensive care unit (ICU) utilization.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the purpose for these changes was to make the public look beyond the number of infections and instead focus on the severity of the patients’ condition and the healthcare utilization in the country.
The DOH said the daily average of cases was at 899, lower by 30 percent than the cases reported from February 22 to 28.
The health department likewise reported 1,055 severe and critical cases and an intensive care unit utilization rate of 25.7percent, or 807 out of the 3,138 ICU beds. Both are cumulative totals based on admissions as of March 6.
The country’s death toll increased to 615.
‘Very low risk’
COVID-19 cases in four highly urbanized cities in Luzon are now classified under the “very low risk” category due to improved data, the independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said.
OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David, in a tweet, showed that as of Sunday, March 6, Angeles, Dagupan, Lucena, and Olangapo all have average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 0.55 and below.
ADAR pertains to the incidence showing the average number of new cases in a period per 100,000 people, David said.
The positivity rate is also “very low” in the four areas with Angeles, Dagupan, and Lucena all recording 2 percent, while Olango has 3 percent.
The reproduction rate in these areas, along with other highly urbanized cities in Luzon, was also “very low,” ranging from 0.14 to 0.48, OCTA said.
‘Lowest in Angeles’
The healthcare utilization rate, meanwhile, is lowest in Angeles with 1 percent, followed by Naga City with 3 percent.
Both Dagupan and Santiago also reported an HCUR of 8 percent.
The National Capital Region, Baguio, Naga City, Santiago are considered at low risk for COVID-19.
NCR, which is under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to March 15, has a recorded ADAR of 1.57, positivity rate of 3 percent, reproduction rate of 0.24, and HCUR at 23 percent, OCTA said.
Palawan’s Puerto Princesa, however, is at moderate risk, indicating a “very high” positivity rate of 38 percent.
Decline seen
The country’s daily COVID-19 figures might decrease to 500 by end of March or early next month despite the slowing of infections’ downward trend, independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said.
According to OCTA’s Guido David, some areas such as Puerto Princesa City in Palawan and Iloilo City were still classified as “moderate
risk” for the respiratory disease due to “moderate” healthcare utilization rate.
“We’re expecting this to continue to decline by end of March. It might be only a few hundreds, 300 to 500, just like what we saw December
last year before omicron entered the country.),” he said in a televised public briefing.
“We still need to follow minimum public health standards, so cases continue to decline. That’s one of the reasons why our virus cases the
past months and weeks decreased,” David said.
2nd booster shot
An infectious disease expert said Monday the second booster shot was only recommended for senior citizens and immunocompromised for now, and not yet for the younger or general population.
Dr. Rontgene Solante said in a radio interview the advice of health experts remained for those who have completed their primary vaccine series to get one booster shot after three to six months.
Health Undersecretary and National Vaccination Operations Center chairperson Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said on Saturday that vaccinations at local government units nationwide slowed down the past week, with some people losing the sense of urgency when it comes to booster shots.
This is why the priority for the fourth wave of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national vaccination drive will be senior citizens who have
not yet completed their primary dose series and those set for booster shots.
Based on the Department of Health’s national COVID-19 vaccination dashboard, 10.2 million Filipinos have received booster shots as of
February 28.
Visibility of trends
The decision of DOH to shift from reporting daily COVID-19 case bulletin to a weekly basis will affect OCTA Research Group’s monitoring of the pandemic situation in the country as they may lose their visibility of trends, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said.
David’s remark was made after the DOH announced last week that they will focus the weekly bulletin on active severe and critical infections and the intensive care unit (ICU) utilization starting March 7.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the purpose for these changes is to make the public look beyond the number of infections, and instead focus on the severity of the patients’ condition and the healthcare utilization in the country.
Collected data
The DOH said it was standing by the collected data being released regarding the number of vaccinated individuals in the country.
“This data has been collected by the National Vaccination Operation Center through lists submitted by national vaccination sites
throughout the country and referenced through the Vaccine Operation
System. We would also like to reiterate that all reports undergo validation by the Centers for Health Development who are in charge of
implementing, monitoring, and coordinating health-related policies and programs to national government agencies as well,” said the DOH in a statement.
“According to the latest NVOC report or as of March 6, we have reached a total 63,690,701 fully-vaccinated individuals,” the DOH said.
It added: “Further, the DOH is now working towards bringing vaccination services nearer to the people and communities through the utilization of pharmacies, primary care clinics and occupational health clinics, as well as vaccination sites in air, sea, and transportation terminals.
“Churches, parishes, and cathedrals are also being used as additional booster and vaccination areas to increase accessibility.”