MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday, March 22 that all regions of the country are now under minimal risk case categorization, following a spike in infections caused by the highly infectious COVID-19 Omicron variant.

During an online media discussion, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that Covid-19 cases nationwide are on the downturn, with an estimation of 490 cases reported each day for the period of March 15 to 21.

“Pababa na po nang pababa ang mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa lahat ng lugar sa ating bansa. Dahil dito, lahat ng rehiyon natin ay nananatili sa minimal risk case classification at may low risk health system capacity,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

(The number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing in all areas of our country. As a result, all our regions remain in the minimal risk case classification and have low-risk health system capacity)

In the meantime, the number of Covid-19 severe and critical hospital admissions has dropped from 1,874 to 805.

“We ask the public to continue to observe minimal public health standards and to get vaccinated and boosted to help keep our Covid-19 instances low and our health systems’ capabilities at low risk,” Vergeire stated.

Despite ongoing decreases in infections, President Rodrigo Duterte indicated in a recorded speech aired on Tuesday that he would not remove the face mask-wearing requirement just yet. He claims that the virus is still evolving and that wearing a face mask is the best way to protect yourself. 

According to the National Admissions by Health Status database as of March 20, 1,403 admissions were asymptomatic, 2,173 were mild, and 2,498 were moderate. 

Establishments and public transportation are permitted to operate normally under Alert Level 1, which the government refers to as the “new normal.” There are no limitations on people of various ages moving around, and this is subject to specific rules that differ by a local government unit. – WhatALife!

Source: (pna.gov.ph)

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