Marcos to meet Vergeire on alert levels

MANILA (2nd UPDATE)– The current COVID-19 alert levels imposed in different parts of the country have been extended, as the inter-agency task force (IATF) is set to review the coronavirus situation next week, Malacañang said Saturday.

"The status quo holds for our alert levels, which the IATF will be reviewing on Monday," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles told reporters in a text message.

Angeles added that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. would meet Vergeire "for any action thereon."

"The IATF will continue to monitor the status of the pandemic," the Palace official said.

This means that Metro Manila and dozens of areas will still be under the loosest of the country's five-tier COVID-19 alert levels until the government releases a new set of alert levels.

• PH detects 79 more cases of omicron subvariants: health dept

The Philippines is currently experiencing a rise in new COVID-19 infections amid the presence of more transmissible variants and the population's waning immunity, the health department had said.

The country recorded 10,743 or an average of 1,535 new daily cases from July 5 to 11, the DOH earlier said. The figure is 41 percent higher than the previous week and is as high as the number of cases during the last week of February, it added.

• Metro Manila to remain under Alert 1 until mid-July: Palace

Despite the rise in cases, the country's healthcare utilization remains at a "low risk" 22 percent.

Meanwhile, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the growth of new cases in Metro Manila has already decreased to 28 percent this week from 41 percent the previous week.

NCR growth rate at 28%. Cases are still rising but the current trends project to a peak within seven days. NCR ADAR at 5.57 per day per 100k. Hospital occupancy remained low at 29.6%. The public is advised to take necessary precautions. #COVID pic.twitter.com/YaqBsw1nB9

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) July 16, 2022

The average daily attack rate (ADAR) or the number of fresh infections in an area per 100,000 population, was at 5.57 this week.