Metro Manila is now at low risk for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as cases continue to go down in the region, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Wednesday.

Metro Manila is “exhibiting a slow decline after a plateau”, said DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea De Guzman.

Lower than its average of 825 daily new cases during the June 9 to 15 period, Metro Manila now averages 685 new cases daily from June 16 to 22.

“The goal now is to push it down even further so that we reach our pre-ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) levels of less than 500 cases,” De Guzman said in an online briefing.

The capital region logged an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 5.70 cases per 100,000 populations, hospital occupancy rate of 36.29%, and intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate of 45.83%.

Meanwhile, Las Piñas, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros and San Juan were classified as moderate risk due to their high ADAR or bed occupancy rate based on the two-week case growth rates record.

As of June 21, Makati posted a 61.90% healthcare utilization rate and 89.66% ICU occupancy rate, while 70% of ICU beds in Las Piñas were in use.

De Guzman announced last week that Metro Manila is under moderate risk classification. Ronald Espartinez