THIRTEEN out of the 17 regions in the country are seeing increasing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.
In an online media forum, DOH-Disease Prevention and Control Bureau head Dr. Beverly Ho said that only four regions have been able to maintain their negative case growth rates.
Ho cited data that showed growth rates in the Cordillera Administrative Region (100%), Bicol Region (94%), Caraga (72%), Eastern Visayas (56%), Calabarzon (39%), Central Visayas (27%), Mimaropa (27%), Zamboanga Peninsula (23%), Ilocos Region (20%), National Capital Region (17%), Soccsksargen (12%), Davao Region (10%), and Central Luzon (2%).
Similarly, the health official said new infections in the whole country have increased by 17 percent over the last 14 days.
Also yesterday, the DOH reported that five additional cases of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 have been detected in the country, bringing the total to 22.
Ho said the five new BA.2.12.1 subvariant cases have been detected in Western Visayas.
“All five cases have completed their home isolation, were asymptomatic, and tagged as recovered,” she said, adding the five cases include three returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) from the USA, and two local cases, with all being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“As we have seen, the new variants do not lead to critical or severe conditions, especially with our cases being fully vaccinated,” she added.
Ho said the five new cases had a total of seven close contacts but “all of them have finished their isolation period and are considered recovered.”
With the five new cases, there are already a total of 22 individuals who have been afflicted with the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the country — two in the NCR, 12 in Puerto Princesa City, four in Western Visayas, and four ROFs but are currently residing in Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, the DOH said the country’s lone case of the Omicron subvariant BA.4 case has completed the mandatory quarantine, has recovered, and is asymptomatic.
The patient’s two close contacts are fully vaccinated and remain asymptomatic but have yet to complete their quarantine period.
The DOH said the patient’s 33 close contacts from his flight have been identified but have yet to complete their vaccination and testing details.
Despite the recorded increase in cases, and the detection of new cases of the Omicron subvariant, the DOH assured the public that there is nothing to be worried about.
Ho said the case classification rates of the 13 regions remain at “low risk.”
Similarly, she said that the Philippines’ risk classification also remains “low.”
“These increases are small increases, which, as of now, is not a cause for concern,” said Ho.
Add to this, she said, is the fact that the healthcare utilization rate in the country remains low amid the uptick in cases at 17.20 percent.
“The increase that we are seeing has yet to translate to an increase in admissions in hospitals,” she also said.
Despite the approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ho said that the COVID-19 vaccines of Moderna for kids aged 6 to 11 years old are not yet set to be rolled out.
Ho said the DOH is still waiting for the World Health Organization recommendation on Moderna use for ages 6-11. “This will then guide the Philippine Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) in its independent evaluation,” she said.
“Should HTAC find evidence to support a positive recommendation, the DOH and the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) will then roll-out,” she added.
Under existing protocols, Ho said the FDA granting of a new or amended Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is only the first step for vaccination rollout.
The second step is for HTAC to make a positive recommendation based on either completed Phase III and IV clinical trials, or preliminary data from Phase III clinical trials and WHO recommendations.
On Monday, Moderna’s local partner, Zuellig Pharma Corporation, announced that the latter’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids has been okayed by the FDA.
A copy of the FDA issuance showed the granting of an amendment to the EUA of Moderna last May 20, 2022, thereby approving its use as a primary series vaccine for kids aged 6-11 years old.
Prior to the approval for Moderna, Pfizer vaccine is the only jab that has received emergency use approval for those aged 5 to 11 years old.
So far, more than 2.7 million children are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
