MANILA – The number of new Covid-19 cases is lower compared to pre-Omicron variant waves late last year, a health official said Monday.
In an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the average daily reported cases for the week of April 26 to May 2 has gone down to 196 which is 9 percent lower than last week's 215 cases.
The lowest seven-day moving average in 2021 (December 18 to 24) prior to the Omicron subvariant wave was 254 cases per day.
"Overall, the national positivity rate is still at a slow decline at 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent from last week. This is also the lowest we have recorded within a week starting in 2021, lower by 23 percent compared to before we had an Omicron situation," Vergeire said.
The country remains under minimal risk classification for Covid-19 despite slight increase in cases in some regions.
Region 4-B, Region 5 and Region 8 had a positive growth rate in the recent two weeks.
A one week positive growth rate was seen in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 2 and Region 7.
"Gayun pa man, ang pagtaas ng two, at most 30 cases ay hindi pa rin nag-ta-translate sa mas mataas na (However, the increase of two, at most 30 cases still does not translate to high) average daily attack rates," Vergeire said.
The national intensive care unit admission remains at low risk with 16 percent growth rate.
The national admission of Covid-19 cases remains on a plateau, which went down by 2.8 percent in the recent week compared to the previous week.
Almost half of the total admissions are mild and asymptomatic while the severe and critical cases comprise 12.6 percent of the admissions, Vergeire said.
"Nananatili itong mas mababa sa 20 percent kumpara noong November 2021 (This remains lower than the 20 percent recorded last November 2021)," she said. (PNA)
