MANILA (UPDATE) – The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it is closely monitoring 13 areas that recorded an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted, however, that the rise in COVID-19 cases is not significant enough to merit concern.

“We are not seeing significant increases as of this time. And most specifically, mas importante po, doon po sa mga pagtaas ng kaso na nakikita natin na bahagya, ay hindi po natin nakikitang napupuno ang mga ospital,” Vergeire said.

(We are not seeing significant increases as of this time. And most specifically, more importantly. even though there is a slight increase in cases, hospitals aren't filling up.)

• Philippines records 205 new cases of COVID-19; active cases lowest since Dec. 30

Vergeire said Pateros, Malabon and Navotas in Metro Manila are being watched for their number of cases and hospital occupancy numbers.

“May positive growth rate po ang Pateros. Meron din po sa ibang area na napupuno po ang kanilang (intensive care unit) katulad sa Malabon. Pero nung pinag-aralan naman po natin, tatatlo lang po ang ICU beds nila. And ngayon po, puno na ang kanilang 3 ICU beds,” she said.

“Sa Navotas naman po, meron lang ho tayo diyan 46 beds for COVID ward. At ngayon po, medyo may pagtaas. Pero it’s still less than 60 percent. Pero kakaunti po kasi kaya madaling mapuno.”

(There is positive growth in Pateros. In other areas like Malabon, the ICU beds are filling up. But there are only 3 ICU beds so they're all being used now. In Navotas, there are only 46 COVID ward beds. And even though there's a slight uptick, the utilization rate is less than 60 percent. So they're easily filled up because they're so few.)

Vergeire attributed the slight uptick in cases to lax compliance with minimum public health standards, gatherings in campaign sorties, and people going on vacation during the Holy Week.

• DOH blames slight rise in COVID-19 cases to travelers, Halalan activities

She reminded the public to adhere to health protocols to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases.

The DOH earlier projected that waning compliance with pandemic guidelines could push active coronavirus infections to around half a million by the middle of May.

• DOH: Lax adherence to COVID-19 curbs may lead to 500,000 active cases in May

Meanwhile, Independent research group OCTA noted a slow increase in COVID trends in the South Africa, the United States and in Delhi, India.

Delhi is currently recording a 7-day average of 823 cases.

OCTA Fellow Dr. Guido David explained that while all indicators in the Philippines points to the COVID-19 situation being very low risk, an increase in cases is still possible in the coming months.

“The increase in cases in South Africa, US and Delhi makes it likely that the Philippines will see an increase in cases soon. I’m going on record to see that we will likely see an increases in cases. Why? because India, South Africa and Indonesia are 3 countries which more or less have the same pandemic trends in the past as the Philippines,” he said.

It remains unknown how high the number of new cases will be, but David says they “tend to think that it will not be like the January surge.”

The increase, according to David, may be seen around May or June.

“Right now, there is no suggestion that an increase is taking place. if we see an uptick, it’s likely to continue until we reach a certain peak,” he said.

Like all other experts, OCTA says that continued adherence to minimum public health standards, vaccination and most especially boosters will work keep the the higher numbers at bay.

The call for the public to receive their booster shots has been a consistent appeal by medical experts especially for those who have received their primary series at the latter part of 2021.

Evidence has consistently shown that vaccines wane several months after the primary series.

—with reports from Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News