MM not out of woods yet
We still need to prioritize Metro Manila in our vaccination as areas in the NCR are still considered high-risk areas because of the population
Metro Manila (MM) is not yet out of the woods despite the downward trend in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the NCR Plus, Treatment czar and Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said on Sunday.
In a radio interview, Vega said sending home medical personnel from the Visayas who volunteered as augmentation force is still not an option at this time amid the surge of infections in the different regions outside Metro Manila.
“Cases in the NCR has been decreasing but we cannot still say we are out of the woods,” Vega said.
Vega added the Department of Health (DoH) also noticed an increase in cases in nearby provinces, including Region 4 like Batangas, Laguna and Cavite.
He added that the National Capital
Region (NCR) remains in the high-risk classification.
“We still need to prioritize Metro Manila in our vaccination as areas in the NCR are still considered high-risk areas because of the population,” Vega added.
According to the official, medical personnel from the Visayas earlier deployed in the NCR will continue to provide reinforcement.
Avoid spreader events
“What we are trying to avoid is another possible surge in the NCR, and we will again encounter problem in our healthcare workers,” Vega noted.
Cases in the NCR has been decreasing but we cannot still say we are out of the woods.
According to Vega, the DoH has tapped the services of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to help augment healthcare workers in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“BFP has its own nurses, medical workers who will help and can be deployed in areas in Visayas and Mindanao where there are spikes in cases,” Vega noted.
Vega added the DoH also identified low risk areas where healthcare workers can provide augmentation.
He noted that among the areas where there is an upswing in infections include Negros Oriental, especially Dumaguete and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental.
Mindanao on upswing
Vega said in Mindanao, among areas with a recognizable surge in Covid cases include the Caraga region, Zamboanga City and Cagayan de Oro City.
“There is also an increase in Southern Mindanao, Davao region but we are able to control it now,” he said.
He attributed the increase to the opening of the economy in most areas and the presence of more contagious virus variants.
“These areas are mostly under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine), GCQ (general community quarantine) so there are movements of people and the Philippine Genome Center reported the occurrence of the variants in all the regions that is the reason for the strict observance of the minimum health protocol,” he added.