COVID-19 cases may drop to 1,000 by Christmas - OCTA

The Philippines may see daily COVID-19 cases drop to around 1,000 by Christmas if current trends persist, according to OCTA Research.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David stated that the highly transmissible Delta variant has reached its endgame in the country.

He believes that cases will not surge back to 10,000 to 20,000 daily as long as minimum public health standards are followed.

The country's daily average of new COVID-19 cases has fallen to 4,848, a level not seen since March.

The virus's reproduction number in the Philippines is currently at 0.52.

This projected decrease follows the Department of Health's (DOH) assessment that the country's COVID-19 risk classification has improved from moderate to low.

Despite the encouraging decline in cases, the public is still urged to adhere to minimum public health protocols and avoid the "3Cs": confined spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings.