COVID-19 Cases in the Philippines Decrease by 25% ; Vaccines Soon to be Available

Joyce C. Gutierrez

According to the case report of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the month of November, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines continue to decrease daily, in terms of daily reported cases, deaths and recoveries.

It was also stated in the report that the Department of Health (DOH) has changed the reporting of recovered cases based on the national criteria, wherein mild and asymptomatic cases are tagged as recovered 14 days after specimen collection.

As of November 10, 2020, there are 399,749 confirmed cases in the country where 55% are male, mostly 20-29 years old, and mostly from the National Capital Region (NCR); there is a a total of 7, 661 deaths which mostly consists of people over 70, with the highest percentage from Central Visayas and the proportion of death among COVID19 confirmed cases is now 1.9%.

However, based on the latest data, there are evidence showing that there is an increasing number of cases and higher transmission in Region 3 and 4A, and a decreasing number in NCR.

The report also stated that all Filipinos will be able to receive the coronavirus vaccine under the national vaccination roadmap but the country’s poor, frontliners, soldiers, cops, and other servicemen will be given priority.

The said national vaccination roadmap is said to be completed from November to December 2020 and the government hopes that the availability of the vaccine will be a game-changer as we go from avoidance to minimizing the threat of the infection.

Despite this, DOH still urged the public to still observe and practice the health guidelines such as wearing of face masks and face shield, and frequent handwashing; the agency also stated to avoid mass gatherings as well as loud singing as it can increase the risks of coronavirus transmission.

The author is Teacher

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II at San Pedro Elementary School