PHILIPPINES — The COVID-19 situation in the country continues to improve as the Department of Health reported on Monday that the Philippines is now under minimal risk case classification.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vegeire said the average daily attack rate from Nov. 22 to Dec. 5 is now below one, which means the country can be downgraded from low risk to minimal risk.
“Nationally we remain at minimal risk case classification with a negative two-week growth rate at -57% and a low-risk average daily attack rate at 0.67 cases for every 100,000 individuals,” she said in a media briefing.
Thirteen of the 17 regions are under the same classification, the official added.
Only Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Zamboanga Peninsula are under low risk case classification, which is one step higher than minimal risk status.
The country’s positivity rate is now at 1.80%, with Metro Manila having the lowest rate at 1.1%. This refers to the percentage of all tested people who get positive results.
Some areas are even reporting zero COVID-19 infections for days, like the municipality of Pateros.
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III said since Nov. 13, they have not recorded any positive case from tests they conducted.
He attributed this to the high vaccination rate in the town. Around 96% of Pateros’ adult population is now fully immunized while close to 75% of its residents aged 12-17 have also received their coronavirus shots, the chief executive noted.
Ponce said the administration of booster shots for priority groups has already started.
Meanwhile, Vegeire said the health systems capacity in all regions are at low risk or under 50% use.
The Philippines has recorded 2,834,775 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, with 13,853 active cases. The death toll is now at 49,386.
