DOH cautiously accepts UP projection: PH COVID-19 cases may reach 100k by end-August

The Department of Health (DOH) cautiously accepted a projection by UP professors that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines may reach 100,000 by end-August.

UP Institute of Mathematics Professor Guido David and UP Department of Political Science Professor Ranjit Rye said actual numbers could exceed this estimate due to increasing 'R-naught' or infectivity rate from 1.28 to 1.6.

The professors noted the first wave of transmission is not over, urging stakeholders to intensify efforts against virus spread before easing quarantine measures further.