The World Health Organization on Friday described as ‘worrying phenomenon’ the increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in several regions in the Philippines.
MANILA — The World Health Organization on Friday described as « worrying phenomenon » the increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in several regions in the Philippines.
Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines, said though the increase in COVID-19 cases was expected due to expanded testing, several « issues have contributed to increased transmission. »
Last week, the Department of Health identified Cebu province and Cebu island in Region VII and Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Leyte at Samar in Region VIII as emerging COVID-19 hotspots.
It later identified several provinces in Mindanao as places that are also seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Abeyasinghe said that while the “main contributing factors” are not yet clear, “it has become clear that the compliance with the quarantining guidelines and the procedures were not optimum in Cebu.”
He said the “stigma” associated with the disease also prompted some people to refuse testing and to practice isolation or quarantine.
“But we also need to recognize that as we detect more positive cases, we seem to be seeing a concentration of those in some areas of the country, namely in the National Capital Region, at this point of time, and in Region 7, especially Cebu City,” he said.
“Also, we are seeing increasing evidence of a larger number of cases being reported from Region IV-A (Calabarzon), Region III (Central Luzon), Region X (Northern Mindanao), Region XII (Soccsksargen) and Region VIII (Eastern Visayas).
