By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday that while there is an observed increase in cases, there is no definitive evidence of a surge in the National Capital Region.

The DOH, however,  is closely monitoring daily trends and is immediately flagging areas with increases in rates of transmission based on two-week growth rates (TWGR), in affected population as per average daily attack rate (ADAR), and/or health care utilization.

“In terms of our health care capacity, nationally we are seeing low health care and intensive care utilization rate. We are also closely monitoring pending ER admissions,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

Based on current data analysis by the DOH Epidemiology Bureau and FASSSTER, NCR is showing a 19% increase for its TWGR and ADAR of 6 cases per 100,000 population, which is at moderate risk. Makati, Las Piñas, Pasay, Pasig, Taguig, Paranaque, Manila, Valenzuela, Navotas, Marikina, and Caloocan all have positive TWGR – a trend reversal from negative two-week growth rates 3-4 weeks ago. Additionally, Makati, Las Piñas, and Pasay have high risk ADAR.

“We acknowledge that there is an increase of our case metrics which is why we urge people to continue adhering to the minimum health standards and get vaccinated, and for our local government units to strictly implement our protocols,” Vergeire said.

Otherwise, she said the daily active cases in the NCR could reach 11,000 by the end of September 2021 based on the projections calculated by FASSSTER with the assumption that the Delta variant is 60 percent more transmissible.

In related news, in a follow-up on the Delta variant situation in the Philippines, health officials say 29 of the 119, or 24 percent of the Delta variant cases detected in the country were unvaccinated against Covid-19.

Vergeire said those who contracted the Delta variant after receiving two doses of Covid-19 vaccine only suffered mild or no symptoms.

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