Philippines, NCR drop to ‘high risk’ for COVID-19, says Duque

The classification of Philippines and Metro Manila was downgraded to "high risk" from critical risk for COVID-19 but the average daily attack rate (ADAR) remains high, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.

"Bumaba po ang two-week growth rate to 176%. Moderate risk classification siya samantalang ang average daily attack rate or ADAR nasa 25.46," Duque said during the pre-recorded Talk to the People.

"Ito ay mataas pa rin dahil lampas po ito sa seven average daily cases per 100,000 population kaya classification is high risk," he added.

Meanwhile, in Metro Manila, Duque said the classification shifted from critical to high risk as the two week growth rate went down from 7,225% to 65% but its ADAR is at 85.46%.

Duque also said NCR Plus areas are showing case decline while cases in the rest of Luzon areas are plateauing.

Aside from NCR, Mimaropa, BARMM, and SOCCSKSARGEN were classified as high risk.

Duque also reported that the following regions are at critical risk:

• Bicol Region
• Cordillera Administrative Region
• Western Visayas
• Davao Region
• Cagayan Valley
• Northern Mindanao
• Zamboanga Peninsula
• Ilocos Region
• Caraga
• Central Visayas
• Eastern Visayas
• Calabarzon
• Central Luzon

However, Duque reported that case trends in Visayas and Mindanao are increasing.

He asked local government units in the regions to address hospital utilization rates, monitor case hospital metrics, and ramp up vaccinations, among others.

Based on government data, Duque said over 57 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated versus COVID-19, which is 73% of the country's eligible population. Over 6.2 million Filipinos got their booster doses.

On Monday, January 24, 2022, the Philippines reported 24,938 new COVID-19 cases, raising the active tally to 262,997.

Of the active infections, 7,944 are asymptomatic; 250,235 are mild; 1,499 are severe; and 309 are in critical condition.—LDF, GMA News