For the week of May 16-22, 2022, there were 1,214 new cases or almost 10% MORE cases than the week of May 9-15 (where 1,118 cases were reported). Of the 1,214 cases for the past week, 14 of them were tagged as severe and critical at the time of diagnosis and only 6 deaths were added (3 that occurred on May 9-22).

Healthcare utilization for non-ICU beds and ICU beds were lower (17.4% vs. 17.5% the previous week for non-ICU beds and 15.4% vs 15.6% this week vs the previous week for ICU beds). However, the cases of severe and critical admissions are up at 718 (12.9% of total COVID-19 admissions) this past week compared to the week of May 9-15, which stood at 588 (10.6% of total COVID-19 admissions).

Full vaccination coverage is at 76.71% which is a tad higher than the 76.29% in the previous week as more than 377,000 more individuals completed the two doses to be considered fully vaccinated. The A2 coverage is up at 77.22% compared to a previous 77.12% as more than 240,000 individuals availed of the first booster shot.

The Health Agency announces 191 new cases today (same as yesterday) with 0 added deaths. Unlike, however, the previous weeks where the announcement on a Monday would reflect a lower positivity rate, today the positivity rate is up at 1.3% (out of only 13,811 individuals tested).

The NCR owned 70 of today’s cases. Two LGUs have double digits – Manila with 16 and Quezon City with 12. While the other LGUs in Mega Manila continue to report single digits, five of them have more than 5 cases while three report zero covid. Those with zero covid were: Marikina, Navotas and Pateros.

Outside of NCR, the provinces that had double digit numbers were: Cavite 20 and Batangas 14.

The Health Agency announces 191 new cases with 0 added deaths today. NCR owned 55 of the total cases with only Quezon City reporting double digits – 10. Five LGUs announced zero covid. They were: Valenzuela, Marikina, Malabon, San Juan and Pateros.

Outside of NCR the following provinces report double digits: Cavite 13 and Bulacan 10.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

This week saw a slight uptick in cases in the Philippines as the reproduction number now fluctuates around 1.0. Two things happened this week in the country. At the beginning of the week the Health Agency announces that community transmission for subvariant BA.2.12.1 is confirmed. On Saturday, May 21, the Health Agency also announces the presence of BA.4 from an OFW who arrived from the Middle East early May.

Based on the effective reproduction rate, Taiwan still has Rt >2 and will continue to see increasing cases the upcoming week. Brunei sees an uptick in their cases and in their Rt as well. The Philippines and Indonesia also have a reproduction rate indicating plateauing of cases for now.

The Philippines ends with a 7-day average of 150 new daily cases as of May 20, still the lowest among the East Asian nations. Note, however, that testing has also decreased significantly in the country, as those that test positive on rapid antigen testing (RAT) do not under RT-PCR any longer due to cost issues.

Taiwan continued the upward trajectory, while all other countries a seeing a significant downtrend in cases, with Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines plateauing (or slightly up) from the previous week.

On a per capita basis, Taiwan has ore than 3500 cases per million population, while Brunei is now in second with more than 600 cases per million. Indonesia has less than 1 case per million population.

Yes we’re seeing increasing cases. As noted in the increase in reproduction number (Rt) over the past days, where the Rt is >1.0 (+/- 0.05), the 7-day positivity rate remains at 1.1%. But testing has remained relatively low in the country, with those testing positive with rapid antigen, not testing anymore with RT-PCR.

The Health Agency announces 246 new cases today with 0 added deaths. The NCR accounted for half of today’s numbers. Five LGUs in NCR led the haul with double digits. They were: Quezon City 23, City of Manila 22, Parañaque 14, Taguig 12, and Pasay City 10. Three LGUs in NCR had zero covid. These were: Marikina, Navotas and Pateros.

Outside of NCR, the province of Cavite contributed 15 cases, Isabela 11, South Cotabato and Albay 6 apiece.

With the DoH reporting the presence of BA.2.12.1 as community transmission (which is 25% higher in transmissibility) and BA.4 from an OFW from the Middle East who arrived in the country last May 4, 2022, we remind the public to maintain minimum public health standards and plan your trips.

More importantly, for those that should get boosters already, please avail of them sooner than later. You will regret forgoing this for another time.

The Health Agency announces 215 new cases and 3 added deaths on May 20. The National Capital Region owned 90 of these cases. The LGU in Mega Manila that led the haul was Quezon City with 27 cases, followed by the City of Manila with 13. Three LGUs in NCR reported zero covid. They were: Navotas, San Juan and Pateros.

Outside of NCR, only the province of Cavite saw double digits with 12 cases. However, note that in some areas, while the numbers remain at single digit, the cases are up from zero. Example is Leyte that saw 6 cases today.

The reproduction rate is at 1.02 (+/- 0.05) as of May 17, 2022. Which means that the numbers will most likely be on a slight upward trend or plateau at 200 mark in the coming days.

The Health Agency reports 195 new cases with no additional deaths today May 19, 2022. The NCR accounted for the larger haul with 75 cases.

Two LGUs in NCR had double digit numbers – Quezon City with 17 and the City of Manila with 10 cases. Four LGUs in NCR had zero covid today. They were: Malabon, Navotas, San Juan and Pateros.

Outside of NCR, only the province of Cavite reported double digits with 10 cases.

The 7-day positivity rate is up at 1.1%.

The Health Agency announces 103 new cases and no added deaths today. The NCR owned 45 of the 103 cases for the day, with only Quezon City reporting double digits (10 cases) today. Five LGUs in Mega Manila reported zero covid. They were: Pasig, Las Piñas, Malabon, Navotas and San Juan.

No province reported double digit cases.

The Health Agency announces 110 new cases and took back 6 deaths (yes took back as in -6) and declared these as patients who are alive but were reported dead in today’s report.

The NCR accounted for 54% of today’s numbers, with Quezon City and Makati reporting double digits at 19 and 10 cases, respectively. Four LGUs report zero covid in Mega Manila. They were: Marikina, Malabon, Navotas, and Pateros.

No province outside of NCR had double digit numbers.

Positivity rate is now at 0.9%.

The week of May May 9-15, 2022 saw 1,118 new cases or practically no movement from the previous week (May 2-8, 2022). The 7-day average was at 160 cases/day this week or only 0.3% lower compared to the previous week. There were 16 deaths added to this week (compared to 42 the previous week) and 14 cases this week that were classified as severe or critical (same as the previous week.).

Hospital bed utilization was up at 17.5% for non-ICU bed (vs. 15.7% the previous week), and down at 15.6% (vs 16.8% the previous week). Severe and critical admissions are also down at 588 (compared to 611 the week before).

Vaccination rate is slow this this past week (considering that it covered the election period), which saw only an additional 227,272 additional fully vaccinated individuals and a little less than 166,000 people who received additional booster doses.

The Health Agency announces 160 new cases and 3 added deaths today, May 16, 2022.

The NCR owned 63 (or close to 40%) of today’s cases led by Quezon City with 15 cases. All other LGUs in Mega Manila had single digit numbers and 7 LGUs had zero covid. The latter were: Valenzuela, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Malabon, Navotas, San Juan and Pateros.

Outside of NCR, no province reported double digits today.

The DoH announced 210 new cases, and no added deaths for 05.15.2022. Of the 210 cases, 86 (or 41%) were from NCR.

Three LGUs in NCR reported double digits. They were: Manila 16, and Quezon City and Pasig with 10 apiece. Navotas was the lone LGU that had zero covid.

Outside of NCR, two provinces had double digits. These were: Cavite with 13 and Bulacan, also with 13 cases.

7-day positivity rate remained at 1.1%.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The Philippines continued to see a decline in cases as its Rt drops from 0.98 to 0.82 (+/- 0.05) as of 3 days ago. Note that the lowest 7-day average of cases the PH saw was 82 new daily cases on December 24, 2021. This week, the PH closes at 151 average daily COVID19 cases. That’s around 1.32 cases per million population.

Compared to the East Asian countries in the region, Taiwan tops the 7-day average with close to 50,000 cases/day (and is likely to breach higher numbers as their Rt >2.0). Yesterday, Taiwan had close to 70,000 cases in a single day alone. While all other nations are seeing a continued decline in both the Rt and their daily COVID19 cases, it is Singapore that remains to see a slight upswing in number of cases as its Rt is at 1.22. The Philippines ranks third highest Rt in the region but because the Rt is at 0.82, we may see a slight decline in cases (or continue this very slow plateau) in the next week.

We would like to remind everyone that the Health Agency recently reported the presence of B2.12.1 in the country. Japan also reported the presence of B.4 and B.5 during their screening at the borders.

Get vaccinated (we cannot overemphasize that enough) and please maintain minimum health standards.

The Health Agency announces 175 new cases today – half of which belonged to the National Capital Region. There were no added deaths today.

Three LGUs in NCR reported double digits – Manila 17, Quezon City 16 and Parañaque 12. The rest were single digit with four LGUs reporting zero covid. The zero covid were: Valenzuela, Navotas, San Juan and Pateros.

Outside of NCR, only the province of Cavite reported double digits (12).

The 7-day average positivity rate is at 1.1%.