• PH logs 20,741 new COVID-19 cases
• Higher herd immunity threshold eyed
• Gov’t lifts travel ban on 10 countries
The occupancy rate of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients across the country are now at high risk level as it rose to 74 percent on Saturday as the country logged 20,741 new cases – the second highest daily tally since the pandemic started and the second consecutive day when more than 20,000 fresh infections were recorded.
In Metro Manila, at least 73 percent of the 1,500 ICU beds are in use, the Department of Health said.
This also placed Metro Manila’s ICU bed usage at the high risk level, which means occupancy rate is more than 70 percent but below 85 percent.
Both COVID-19 ward beds at the national level and in Metro Manila are likewise at high risk at 72 percent and 74 percent occupancy rates.
Saturday’s new cases brought the nationwide tally to 2,061,084 even as active cases slightly decreased to 157,646.
The country’s all-time high daily tally was recorded Monday (Aug. 30) at 22,366 cases.
Meanwhile, a medical group on Saturday appealed to the government to improve handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as virus patients continued to fill hospitals in different parts of the country.
“That’s the problem that breaks our hearts. We do not want to make these decisions [as to who would get admitted, who would get respirators. We do not like to play gods,” Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Maricar Limpin said.
“This is already happening in other parts of our country, such as in Calabarzon. Our fellow doctors there said they are already filled with virus patients to the point that they are already waiting outside emergency rooms,” she added.
In other developments:
• Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government needs to increase the herd immunity threshold from 80 percent to 90 percent of the population as some COVID-19 variants lessen the efficacy of vaccines. “With these mutations of the virus, these variants of concerns are having an effect on vaccines, reducing their efficacy against symptomatic infections,” she said.
• The government will lift the travel restrictions on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia beginning Monday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said travelers coming from those countries shall still comply with the appropriate entry, testing and quarantine protocols, depending on the country’s approved “listing.”
• The IATF also approved the adoption of “Yellow” and “Red” classifications, in addition to the “Green List” countries. The Yellow List (Moderate Risk) classification is based on the following metrics: (i) for populations greater than 100,000, the incidence rate shall be 50 to 500; and (ii) for populations less than 100,000, the COVID-19 case counts shall be 50 to 500; and testing rate of tests over the past 28 days per 100,000 population. Roque said inbound international travelers from areas under this classification, regardless of their vaccination status, or with travel history within the last 14 days prior to their arrival, shall be governed by entry, testing and quarantine protocols.
• The Red List (High Risk) classification, on the other hand, is based on the following metrics: (i) for populations greater than 100,000 the incidence rate shall be more than 500; and (ii) for populations less than 100,000, the COVID-19 case counts shall be more than 500, and testing rate of tests over the past 28 days per 100,000 population. Regardless of their vaccination status, travelers coming from areas under “Red List” will not be allowed to enter the Philippines, Roque said.
• The government will start on Monday the soft launch of the VaxCertPH program for travelers. Roque said overseas Filipino workers and Filipinos who will be departing from the Philippines for international travel with place of residence indicating Metro Manila and Baguio City will be prioritized in the initial phase of the implementation of the VaxCertPH. “It will later be opened to the general public and for other purposes at a later time,” said Roque.