DOH Monitors 'Uptick' in COVID Cases During Christmas Week

More COVID-19 tests are returning positive as the Christmas holidays drift to the New Year, the Department of Health said Tuesday, as it urged the public to keep observing pandemic protocols.

The positivity rate increased to 1.3% in the week of Dec. 19 from 0.9% in the week of Dec. 12 , which means that for every 100 tests, at least one person turns out positive.

The spread of the virus is "under control" of the positivity rate stay below 5%, according to the World Health Organization.

"Bagamat alam natin na sasalubong tayo sa Bagong Taon, gusto lang ho namin magpaalala na sana gawin nating safe ang mga reunion, ang mga gatherings. Maging aware po tayong lahat na may uptick na ng kaso o medyo tumataas po ang kaso sa ibang lugar," Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire told TeleRadyo.

"Marami po sa mga areas natin ngayon, nakakakita tayo ng konting pagtaas ng kaso at ito po ay binabantayan natin pero hindi pa rin ho natin masigurado ngayon na magtutuloy-tuloy. We still need around one week to monitor so that we can see if sustained ang pagtaas," she said.

Vergeire reminded Filipinos to follow minimum health protocols during New Year's even gatherings to help control the spread of COVID-19. She also asked the public to use alternative means of noisemaking to avoid firecracker-related injuries.

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