More new peaks expected in coming weeks as Covid cases rise

AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said more wave peaks are expected in the coming weeks as Covid-19 cases increase.  

DOH Epidemiology Bureau OIC-Director Alethea de Guzman said the new peak from August 19 to 25 had surpassed the previous peak recorded from August 12 to 20.

"We're now averaging 15,537 (August 19 to 25) cases per day which is higher than the 12,897 (August 12 to 20) that we reported a week prior," de Guzman said.

The country remains under high-risk classification with majority of the regions at moderate to high-risk health systems capacity.

These regions include the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Region 3, Region 2, Region 10, Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 7, Region 1, Region 11 and Region 6.

The NCR continues with its upward trend on reported cases, increasing by 16 percent the previous week. Its average daily reported cases (ADAR) is 4,105 for the week of August 19 to 25 or 572 cases higher than the week of August 12 to 18 at 3,533 ADAR.

As of August 25, the top five regions with the most number of new cases are NCR with 3,628 cases; Calabarzon, 2,913; Region 3, 1,680; Region 10, 850; and Region 7, 812.

Meantime, the top five areas with the most number of new cases are Cavite, 1,281; Laguna, 779; Quezon City, 554; Bulacan, 525; and Pampanga, 498.

The country's deaths have increased since the last week of July. From August 1 to 25, the DOH logged 109 fatalities – 15 deaths higher as compared to July with 94 deaths. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor)