THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, August 19, 2022, shared the observation of the World Health Organization (WHO) over the recent spike in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) deaths in recent months.
In a press conference, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they have also observed an increasing number of deaths over the last two months.
"There is this observed increase in the number of deaths over these past months. We saw how the number of deaths due to Covid-19 has risen," said Vergeire.
"Back in June, we were averaging one death per day. Come July, we have eight deaths per day. And, as of mid-August, we are at nine deaths per day," she added.
The health official said the Covid-19 deaths mostly involved unvaccinated individuals who experienced severe illnesses.
"Upon analyzing our data, from July 1 to August 14, particularly those dying in hospitals, we found out that 63 percent of these deaths were unvaccinated," said Vergeire.
She said this only means that chances of having severe to critical symptoms as well as deaths are higher among the unvaccinated.
"We are reminding everyone that the probability of having severe infections and possible death due to Covid-19 is higher if you don't get vaccinated," said Vergeire.
Last Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that global Covid-19 deaths over the past month have surged by 35 percent.
Tedros said having 15,000 deaths a week is "completely unacceptable" considering the availability of Covid-19 vaccines.
Case trend
While deaths are on the rise, the DOH reported how the Covid-19 surge in the country has already slowed down.
Vergeire said over the past week, the country registered 3,757 cases per day, which was six-percent lower than the previous week.
"All island groups, except Mindanao, are showing plateauing case trends," Vergeire said.
"Mindanao, which is seeing over 400 cases per day, has been showing incremental increases over the past days," she added.
The national positivity rate, meanwhile, dropped to 16.7 percent this week from 18.5 percent last week.
Vergeire said the country also remained at "low risk" case classification with an average daily attack rate of 3.53 cases per 100,000 population. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)