The backlogs inevitably had to be counted. So today’s 28,007 new cases announced by the Health Agency for 58,409 tests done on January 9 with a positivity rate of 44.5% included around 3,000 backlog reports.
Active cases are now at more than 180,000 as the country breaches the 3M COVID-19 count. Notice, however, the increase HCUR (health care utilization capacity) in the country and most especially in the NCR.
While more than 97% of the cases are mild or asymptomatic AT THE TIME OF TESTING, hospitalization and progression of disease is a lagging indicator.
There are 219 additional deaths today.
Resident OCTA Fellow, Prof. Guido David, drills down the situation in the NCR as it plows through a severe outbreak for COVID19. Notice the almost 700% jump in 7-day average cases of the week December 28, 2021 – January 3, 2022 versus the January 4-10, 2022 week. And the outbreak is spiraling out of control (not that it isn’t obvious because anyone who denies this is either blind or dumb) as the other parameters – ADAR, Rt, positivity rate in tests – have gone through the roof.
While the hospitalization and ICU utilization rate may still be at moderate risk, remember that this is a lagging indicator and because healthcare worker manpower is severely affected, there is a disconnection between the bed capacity and manpower capacity. Many hospitals in the NCR are currently undermanned and cannot accept patients because of this critical situation among HCWs.
Relative Joy 