MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) does not yet see the need to shift Western Visayas to Alert Level 3 despite the detection of the first Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas.
According to Health secretary Francisco Duque III, quarantine restriction shift is “guided by metrics” and Region 6 does not meet the criteria for Alert Level 3.
“We will not recommend [Alert Level 3] to other regions until the figures will show that, like NCR (National Capital Region), mabilis ang pagtaas ng mga kaso,” Duque said.
Based on the data presented by DOH in a virtual presser on Monday afternoon, Western Visayas remained at minimal risk with 590 active COVID-19 cases.
The moving seven-growth rate in the region from Dec. 22, 2021 to Jan. 2, 2022 is at 70.21 percent, while the moving two-week growth rate (Dec. 6 to 19 versus Dec. 20 to Jan. 2) is at -5 percent.
The average daily attack rate per 100,000 population (Dec. 20 to Jan. 2) is at 0.34 (minimal), while the region’s bed and ICU utilization is at 19.54 and 19.48 percent, respectively.
Based on the latest recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Western Visayas is under Alert Level 2 from Jan. 1 to 15.
The NCR has been placed under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15, 2022, following the sharp increase in new coronavirus infections in the country.
Under Alert Level 3, several establishments will be allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated.
Face-to-face classes in basic and higher education, contact sports, funfairs/perya, and casinos are among the activities and establishments prohibited under Alert Level 3.
Work in government offices is limited to 60 percent of their onsite capacity.
In the same presser, DOH undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the entire country is now again classified as “high risk” for COVID-19 following the sharp increase in cases in the past few days.
“Nationally, we are now at high risk case classification from low risk case class in the previous week, showing a positive two-week growth rate at 222 percent and a moderate risk average daily attack rate at 1.07 cases for every 100,000 individuals,” she said.
National healthcare utilization rate, meanwhile, is at “low risk,” with the total bed utilization is at 18 percent and intensive care units (ICU) utilization at 22 percent, she added.
As of 4 p.m. of Jan. 3, DOH recorded 4,084 new COVID-19 cases, with 497 new recovered patients and 16 new COVID-19 casualties./PN
