NEW Covid-19 cases in National Capital Region (NCR) may reach from as high as 2,000 per day in July, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday .
In a radio interview at Super Radyo dzBB, Duque was asked about the DOH’s projections on COVID-19 cases if the rise in infection continues in the coming weeks.
“Meron tayong pinakikinggan na mga third-party na mga projections na mga outfits kagaya ng AuTuMN o Australian Tuberculosis [Modelling] Network na isinama din nila ang pagbabantay ng COVID dito sa Pilipinas at sinasabi nila na by the end of June or mga first week of July, ang kaso sa NCR will be anywhere from 800 to 1,200 a day,” he said.
“Pwedeng mag-peak ‘yan sa NCR ng 1,500 to 2,000. But after that peak sometime in July, siguro by mid-July or end of July, babalik ‘yan, magpa-plateau na ‘yan doon sa 800 to about 1,200,” he added.
OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Tuesday that NCR’s growth rate of COVID-19 cases has further increased to 72% but its hospital utilization rate remains “low” at 22%.
The increase in hospital admissions in four areas in NCR, one in Calabarzon, and one in Northern Mindanao due to COVID-19 are, however, being monitored by the Department of Health (DOH).
Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday also said more COVID-19 cases are expected to be recorded in the coming weeks as the country is now seeing another peak of infections that may be attributed to the entry of the more transmissible Omicron sub variants, the increased mobility in the country, and the waning immunity of the vaccinated population.
The Philippines has logged 32 new cases of the more transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.5, bringing the total to 43, according to the DOH Wednesday.
