Govt monitors rising COVID-19 cases in several PH regions

The government is closely monitoring the growth rate of COVID-19 cases in several cities and provinces outside Metro Manila that are experiencing an uptrend.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles stated that while cases are slowing down in Metro Manila and some parts of Calabarzon and Central Luzon, other regions are experiencing higher growth rates.

These areas of concern include the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Calabarzon, and Central Luzon, as well as specific cities and provinces such as Baguio City, Cebu City and Province, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Iloilo Province and City, Bacolod City, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, General Santos City, Ormoc City, Naga City, Dagupan City, Western Samar, Tacloban City, Biliran, and Zamboanga del Sur.

Authorities are working with regional Inter-Agency Task Forces to manage the situation in these identified areas.

Nograles emphasized the need for these areas to increase their hospital bed capacities for COVID-19 patients to ensure their healthcare utilization rate does not surpass 70 percent.