Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: The Department of Health holds a Kapihan forum with Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau and Dr. Eva Cutiongco de la Paz of the UP Philippine Genome Center | LIVE bit.ly/3qhKlxM

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DOH Epidemiology Bureau says the COVID-19 cases in a number of areas in the Visayas and Mindanao continue to increase, adds the new infections in the NCR Plus are still on the decline albeit in a slow manner

DOH Epidemiology Bureau says on June 22, Calabarzon topped the list of regions with the highest number of new cases

DOH Epidemiology Bureau flagged these areas due to increasing healthcare utilization rates

DOH Epidemiology Bureau says Regions 11, 12 and Caraga are showing an upward trend in cases

DOH Epidemiology Bureau: Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong nakikitang lokal na kaso ng Delta variant

DOH Epidemiology Bureau on strict border controls: Kinakailangan siya para maminimize ang tiyansa ng pagpasok ng variants of concern sa ating bansa

DOH Epidemiology Bureau: We are classifying four areas as high risk in terms of their case data and trend. These are Caraga, Region 6, 11 and 12

DOH Epidemiology Bureau: We had several peaks — in August and after the holidays last year, and in April.

Ngayon tuloy tuloy na bumaba, subalit sa huling linggo ng Mayo hanggang sa ikalawang linggo ng Hunyo, nakakita tayo ng bahagyang pagtaas ng mga kaso.

DOH Epidemiology Bureau: In terms of our average reported cases… nakakita tayo ng pagbaba from June 16-22, compared to June 9-15

DOH Epidemiology Bureau: Ang perspektibo natin sa NCR at kaya tayo ay COVID-19 referral center ay kapag nakikita nating may pagkapuno sa beds ng hospitals, doon papasok ang coordination para patients can be referred to other facilities

Philippine Genome Center: Anything can happen with these viruses lalo na kapag dumarami ang kaso

DOH Epidemiology Bureau says 910 COVID-19 patients in the country had stroke: Either it is a preexisting illness o ‘di po kaya nagkaroon sila ng stroke while infected with COVID-19

DOH Epidemiology Bureau says it is waiting for the World Health Organization to confirm if there is already a community transmission of the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) first detected in the UK and the Beta variant (B.1.351) first found in South Africa in the country

Philippine Genome Center says once the reagents arrive, they could go back to testing at least 750 samples a week for the possible detection of variant cases.

DOH Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said the genome sequencing was affected by logistical issues in the past weeks.