MANILA, Jan 31 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) reported 16,953 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,545,680.
The DOH said, 20 more people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the total death toll to 53,891. Of the 20 deaths, the DOH noted that, 16 died this month, and the rest in previous months.
According to the DOH, the number of active cases dropped to 202,864 from Saturday’s 213,587.
The DOH added, the country’s positivity rate also dipped to 31.4 percent from 33.3 percent.
Despite the high case count, the COVID-19 restrictions in Metro Manila, home to over 13 million people, will be eased on Feb 1 (tomorrow).
Cabinet Secretary, Karlo Nograles, said, the capital region will be placed under Alert Level 2, on a scale of 5, from tomorrow to Feb 15.
Metro Manila has been under strict Alert Level 3 since early this month, when cases spiked, due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19, fueling a fourth virus wave. Health authorities said, the surge peaked in mid-Jan.
On Friday, Health Undersecretary, Maria Rosario Vergeire said, Metro Manila is at “moderate risk,” after the average daily cases in the capital dropped 67 percent compared to the previous week.
Aside from Metro Manila, Nograles said, seven provinces across the archipelago will also revert to Alert Level 2.
Alert Level 2 means, establishments, such as restaurants, can operate at 50 to 70 percent capacity, for fully vaccinated people, depending on whether their operations are indoors or outdoors.
Government agencies in these areas will be fully operational with up to 80 percent workforce.
DOH said, cases in central and southern Philippines are increasing. Over 90 areas across the country will be placed under Alert Level 3 until Feb 15, due to rising infections and hospital admissions.
Amid the ebbing fourth virus wave, the Philippines will allow fully vaccinated foreign tourists from 157 visa-free countries and areas, to enter next month, the first time since the outbreak of the virus.
Fully vaccinated returning Filipinos and foreigners will not be required to go through mandatory quarantine, if they have negative RT-PCR results within 48 hours before departure, from countries or areas of origin.
The Philippines closed its borders to foreign tourists, when it imposed a hard lockdown for the first time in Mar, 2020. Only returning Filipinos and foreigners with special visas were permitted to enter.
The Philippines has seen four COVID-19 waves, since the pandemic began. The country reported the highest single-day tally on Jan 15, with 39,004 new cases.
The Philippines, which has around 110 million population, has tested more than 25 million people for COVID-19, since the disease emerged.– NNN-PNA
