‘Be careful’, Palace reminds as Covid cases start to peak in NCR

FILE: Residents of Barangay Kaligayahan in Novaliches, Quezon City wait for their turn to get vaccinated against Covid-19 on Friday (Nov. 5, 2021). (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday reminded Filipinos to continue observing minimum public health standards after the Department of Health (DOH) announced that Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila are “starting to peak.”

DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Philippines recorded a total of 3,051 new Covid-19 cases from June 13 to June 19, which is 82 percent higher than cases reported the previous week.

She said Metro Manila recorded the most cases in the past two weeks with 2,194 infections followed by Calabarzon (659), Western Visayas (375), Central Luzon (324) and Central Visayas (183).

“Wear your masks, social distancing, wash your hands,” outgoing Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar told reporters in an ambush interview.

Andanar acknowledged that it is difficult to avoid crowds nowadays since all establishments in areas under Alert Level 1 are now allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity as long as proof of full vaccination is presented.

“You just really have to be careful, drink your vitamins, eat healthy, don’t stay up late, and sleep long,” he added.

He allayed fears that the increase in Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila could lead to higher alert level classification or lockdown.

“Sinabi naman ni Usec. Vergeire na (Usec. Vergeire said) it’s not a cause for another surge. Pero kailangan tayong mag-ingat talaga kasi (But we really have to be careful because) it’s not only in the Philippines pero meron din sa ibang bansa (but in other countries as well)…you know it’s bound to happen, kasi nagbukas na nga iyong ekonomiya eh (because we have reopened the economy),” he added.

On Sunday, the DOH recorded 612 new Covid-19 infections, the highest daily tally since the 690 infections registered on April 3.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases stood at 3,696,264 since the pandemic started in March 2020. Active cases were placed at 4,529.

OCTA Research fellow Guido David earlier projected that Metro Manila could see a peak in infections during the first two weeks of July.

He said Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila could reach 1,000 per day by the end of the month or early next month.