A total of 41 areas in the Philippines have been put under Alert Level 4 for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) because of its high healthcare utilization rate, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Wednesday.
“Bagamat ‘yung kanilang case trends ay hindi pa ganoon kataas to reach that high risk, pero ‘yung kanilang healthcare utilization, more than 70% na,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.
“So ibig sabihin, nando’n na sila sa level na kailangan na talaga natin gumawa ng mas appropriate na response,” she added.
The 41 areas are as follows:
- Metro Manila: Las Piñas, Malabon, Makati, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, San Juan, Pateros, Quezon City, Taguig, Valenzuela
- Cordillera Region: Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet
- Region 1: Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte
- Region 2: Cagayan, Quirino
- Region 3: Angeles City, Pampanga, Tarlac
- Region 4A: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Lucena City, Rizal
- Region 5: Naga City
- Region 6: Aklan, Iloilo, Iloilo City
- Region 7: Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Siquijor
- Region 8: Ormoc City
- Region 10: Bukidnon, Cagayan De Oro City, Camiguin
- Region 12: General Santos City, South Cotabato
Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega earlier explained that the country’s healthcare utilization rate was reaching the moderate-risk level amid a fresh increase in Covid-19 infections. Ronald Espartinez