An expert expects that the Philippines will continue to observe a decline in the number of new 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) cases until the start of 2022.
Prof. Jomar Rabajante, a member of the University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, said on Wednesday, October 27, that the COVID-19 positivity rate and hospitalization rate have also decreased.
"Sa buong Pilipinas, yung positivity rate nandoon na tayo sa pre-Delta, yung bago dumating ang Delta na positivity rate ay nandoon na tayo," Rabajante said during DZRH's Metro Manila Ngayon.
"Although doon sa ating ICU (intensive care unit) utilization, papalapit pa lang tayo sa pre-Delta na situation but we are going there kasi declining yung ating hospitalization," he added.
However, Rabajante warned that the emergence of new and more transmissible COVID-19 variants could hamper the downtrend.
"Ayon naman sa projections ng UP Pandemic Response Team, tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaba natin hanggang December at even sa 2022 pero siyempre may mga ifs tayo dito," Rabajante stressed.
Rabajante also urged the government to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in the provinces, particularly in Cagayan Valley and in Albay in Bicol Region, which still have high hospitalization rates.
Furthermore, he said that the Philippines must also pursue COVID-19 vaccination, particularly in the provinces, in order to lessen the risk of infection.
"Alam natin sa ibang provinces, kulang pa rin yung coverage. So kailangan tutukan din natin yung provinces ngayon, lalo na yung highly urbanized cities sa provinces, para pati sila ay hindi magkaroon ng malaking risk," Rabajante said.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that Metro Manila could soon drop to Alert Level Two due to the continuous drop in COVID-19 positivity and reproduction rate.
Downgrading the status of the National Capital Region from Alert Level Three to Alert Level Two will ease restrictions and allow more industries to resume operations.
