DOH amid hike in COVID-19 cases: No need to stay home if vaccinated

The recent increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases remains "insignificant" and should not cause Filipinos to limit their movement, Department of Health officer in charge Dr. Ma. Rosario Vergeire has said.

According to Lei Alviz's report on "24 Oras", Vergeire made the remark after the DOH registered a daily new COVID-19 cases of 275 from March 29 to April 4—an increase of 35% from the daily average number 204 cases from the week before.

"Basta tayo bakunado, tayo ay nagsusuot ng mask, hindi natin kailangang limitahan ang ating sarili at manatili sa bahay," Vergeire said.

"Maaari po nating gawin ang dapat nating gawing importante just as long as we know how to protect ourselves," she added.

(As long as we're vaccinated, we're wearing masks, we don't have to limit our movement to staying home. We can do the important things we have to do just as long we know how to protect ourselves.)

Vergeire said the hospital bed utilization rate across the country was "low-risk" at 16%.

The positivity rate—the percentage of those who tested positive from among those who had themselves tested for COVID-19—was at 5.8% as of April 3. 

"It was relatively quiet since December and even worldwide... So what could be driving it? There could be a new subvariant," said Dr. Guido David of OCTA Research.

"We’re monitoring a new subvariant in India, it’s XBB1.16," he added, saying it was reported to be more transmissible and it remains to be seen if it can cause severe disease.

Other factors for the increasing number of cases are the waning immunity of those who have been vaccinated and those who have been infected, and the easing of health protocols.

"Kung saka-sakali ngang mga subvariant ng Omicron ang pumasok dito, alam naman natin na nagbukas na tayo ng mga sektor," Vergeire said.

"Kung saka-sakaling tumataas nang kaunti tapos one to two weeks bababa then tataas uli, expected na po yang ganyang trend," she added.—NB, GMA Integrated News