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MANILA (PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Last month, the Philippines saw its total number of new cases drop by 25%, in part due to the continuing decline in the number of infections in Metro Manila, the epicenter of the country’s outbreak. . .
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that three to four weeks ago, the average number of daily cases across the country was 2,517.
But in the last two weeks, the Undersecretary of Health, María Rosario Vergeire, said that this was reduced by 25 percent, to 1,887.
In the region of the capital Metro Manila, where the outbreak of the new coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has been largely concentrated, the average number of daily cases in the same period decreased from 842 to 522.
“Hopefully, we will get to that point where new cases will continually decline,” said Dr. Vergeire.
Despite the improved numbers, he reiterated that this was not the only metric to recommend further easing of restrictions, particularly in the capital region that remains under general community quarantine.
“Most importantly, the capacity of our healthcare system is not overwhelmed and is capable of accommodating even non-Covid cases. Also, the average growth rate should be downward, which means it is not a ( trend) positive, “he said.
Earlier, Dr. Vergeire said the DOH was aiming for all localities in the country to have moved to a much more flexible general community quarantine modified by the first quarter of next year.
On Monday (November 2), the DOH reported 2,298 additional cases, bringing the national count to 385,400.
Benguet province on the main island of Luzon recorded the highest number of new infections with 188. This was followed by the city of Davao on the island of Mindanao (166), Rizal in Luzon (119) and Quezon City by Metro Manila (116).
Monday’s positivity rate was close to the World Health Organization benchmark of less than 5 percent.
Dr. Vergeire said DOH was already investigating what was causing new infections among healthcare workers in the Davao region. However, he noted that these health workers are not assigned to hospitals but to primary care centers.
“We have already provided guidance (to the region) and we are further investigating what is happening. For other regions in Mindanao, (there is) a downward trend in infections of health workers,” he said.
President Duterte said on Monday that he appointed Secretary Carlito Gálvez Jr., chief executor of the National Task Force against Covid-19, as the country’s “vaccine czar.”
“The purchase of the vaccine, the negotiation (for the) manufacture, production or distribution, I have given it to Secretary Gálvez. So only Secretary Gálvez is authorized to negotiate or whatever. Only one.
“I don’t want a committee, it takes a long time to decide. I have great faith that Charlie really comes up with the solutions to the problem,” Duterte said.
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