COVID-19 case fatality rate lower in 2021 despite surge in cases —DOH

Deaths attributed to COVID-19 declined during the first nine months of the year despite a threefold rise in cases following the emergence of more infectious coronavirus variants, government records show. 

According to the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, the case fatality rate (CFR) stood at 1.47% as compared to 2.47% in 2020. 

The country recorded 472,205 cases at the end of 2020 as against 1,929,711 cases from January 1 to September 21, 2021, representing a 309% increase. 

The National Capital Region, which has the highest number of cases in 2021, had the lowest CFR among the 17 regions in the country at less than 1%. 

The DOH also said the CFR among senior citizens— one of the most vulnerable populations— in 2021 was two times lower compared to 2020.

“The decrease shown in the national case fatality rate was multifactorial. One of the factors that the department is considering is the overall improvement of the country’s healthcare system over the past year and its ability to cope with the higher demand for clinical assessment, referral, and management of cases," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a statement. 

“The COVID-19 vaccination program also played a role in the decrease. Vaccines continue to provide the promised protection against more severe COVID-19 and deaths. Moreover, this was the effect of the strategies and behavioral-change campaigns implemented as early as August 2020 to mitigate the risk of transmission and slow down the spread of COVID-19,” she added. 

The DOH said the national government together with the local government units must continue to increase coverage among senior citizens to protect them from the severe form of COVID-19, leading to hospitalization and even deaths. 

The Philippines logged 37,074 deaths as of September 21. 

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje on Sunday said over 18 million Filipinos have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19. —Virgil Lopez/KG, GMA News