PH logs 10,775 new COVID-19 cases, Metro Manila classified under 'critical risk'
The Department of Health (DOH) announced that it logged 10,775 new COVID-19 infections on Jan. 5—almost twice the number of cases on Jan. 4.
This number is the highest yet for 2022 and rounds up the total of active cases in the country to 39,974. The 31.7% positivity rate, which is the rate of those who tested positive out of the total tested, is also the highest ever since the pandemic started.
Among the infections, 88% are classified as mild and asymptomatic cases.
The DOH also recorded 605 recoveries and 58 deaths. Nine laboratories failed to submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System.
Filipinos are reminded to continue following minimum public health standards, wear face masks, practice physical distancing, and wash their hands. The DOH also encouraged those who are experiencing COVID symptoms to isolate immediately and undergo testing.
Metro Manila now at 'critical risk'
On Jan. 4, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that Metro Manila is now at critical risk for COVID-19 transmission based on virus case trends.
This announcement was made after the DOH classified the country as "high risk."
Duque said that Metro Manila has the highest COVID-19 two-week growth rate at 1,475% and an average daily attack rate of 8.79. The average daily attack rate usually needs to go under 1 before an area is considered low-risk.
Meanwhile, Region 4A has been classified as high risk while Region 3 is under moderate risk for coronavirus transmission.
The country overall remains at high risk due to the increasing infections.
OCTA Research has predicted that daily COVID-19 infections in the Philippines may peak to over 20,000 in a week.
Currently, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal have been placed under Alert Level 3 due to the sharp increase of daily infections and new cases of the Omicron variant are detected in the country.
