Philippines Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #45 21 July 2020 Data reported by the Department of Health on 21 July 2020 Situation Summary PHILIPPINES SITUATION - Out of total 70,764 confirmed cases reported in the Philippines until IN NUMBERS today, 56% are male, with the most affected age group 20-29 years (24.3%) followed by 30-39 years (24.2%) - 53.4% of cases reported from National Capital Region (NCR), followed by Central Visayas (16.9%), CALABARZON (8%), and Central Luzon (2.5%). Largest increase in new cases from NCR. - Out of 1,837 confirmed deaths, 62% are male, with the most affected age group over 70 years (32.9%) followed by 60-69 years (28.8%) - 52.7% of deaths reported from NCR, followed by Central Visayas (29.2%), CALABARZON (8.6%), and Central Luzon (2.77%). Largest increase in new deaths from Central Visayas. - So far, among over 2,000 UN staff members in the Philippines, 16 tested positive: 10 from WHO, 2 from IOM, and 2 from UNICEF. - Department of Health (DOH) and WHO emphasizing the need for compliance to, and proper implementation of, guidelines at LGU level, especially on high risk groups such as LSI. - 100% of health facilities daily reporting to DOH’s DataCollectApp showing below 50.8% occupancy rate of ward, ICU and isolation beds for COVID -19 patients nationally, while 16 health facilities in Cebu city report occupancy rate of 66.9% of dedicated COVID- 19 beds. In NCR, out of 177 health facilities, 74.6% of dedicated COVID-19 beds are occupied. - Increasing number of hospitals reporting 100% occupancy rate for COVID-19 dedicated beds, with some no longer accepting new cases - Currently 67 laboratories using RT-PCR are accredited for COVID-19 testing, as well as 22 laboratories using GeneXpert. 180 laboratories still in various stages of accreditation. Upcoming Events and Priorities NCR will remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until 31 July with city mayors promising strict enforcement of lockdown and quarantine measures, and strengthening of tracing and testing efforts. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that easing of restrictions in the NCR was out of the question since the doubling rate was at 7-9%. Testing czar Vince Dizon refuted false claims about “Oplan Kalinga”, saying that cops will not be picking up COVID-positive patients from their houses. In an effort to ease public apprehension following the statement by DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano that policemen will conduct house-to-house searches for COVID-19 patients, Dizon said only local government officials and barangay health workers will be referring and transporting COVID-positive patients to designated facilities. Stringent regulations imposed by LGUs in treating returning residents are proving a stumbling block to efforts to repatriate stranded and displaced returning overseas Filipino workers. A number of LGUs have prevented returning constituents even though they tested negative. National government officials overseeing the repatriation process are helpless against the LGU executives who claim autonomy and the right to protect their localities from COVID-19. The Philippines will allow foreigners holders of long-term visas to enter the country from August. Under the measure approved by the IATF, foreigners must have valid and existing visas at the time of entry and pre-booked accommodations in an accredited quarantine facility and an appointment with an accredited laboratory testing facility. No new entry visa will be accepted. DILG reports that 5,215 teams with over 69,000 contact tracers have been deployed nationwide to track down and manage close contacts of both symptomatic and asymptomatic confirmed cases. WHO Philippines CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) Situation Report 45 National Transmission Assessment At the national level, the Philippines remains in Stage 2, localised community transmission. There is clear evidence of an increasing trend in the number of cases and higher transmission in NCR and Central Visayas, with many areas reporting additional cases, some with recent travel history from areas with higher levels of transmission. At national level, the COVID-19 bed occupancy rate is steadily increasing up to 50.8%, with variation between Regions. In the past weeks there has been a further increase in daily reported cases, deaths and recoveries as data validation and harmonisation efforts continue. The government is responding across sectors, including through targeted isolation and quarantine measures, expansion of contact tracing and continuous increase in laboratory capacity. Epidemiology As of 21 July, a total of 70,764 confirmed COVID-19 cases including 1,837 deaths have been reported in the Philippines. The proportion of deaths among COVID-19 confirmed cases is now 2.6%. Figure 1. Weekly reported confirmed COVID-19 cases and % of deaths in the Philippines 5 March-18 July 2020 (N=57,545) Epidemiological Tests Cases Deaths ICU Update 148,406 11,892 236 49% Tests past 7 days New cases past 7 days Deaths past 7 days ICU Utilization Rate COVID-19 (-26%) (+11%) (-20%) past 7 days (+2%) Data reported on 20 July 2020 1,087,935 68,898 1,835 1,377 compared with Cumulative Unique Cumulative Cases Cumulative Deaths ICU beds for COVID- data reported on Individuals Tested 19 patients 13 July 2020 (% difference 8.5% compared to (0%) previous 7 days) Positivity rate Health Service 12,195 286 1,934 14,378 Provision Health care workers Healthcare worker Hospitals admitting Non-ICU Hospital trained on IPC cases reported past 7 COVID-19 patients beds in hospitals COVID-19 days 9,495 (+63%) 54,223 Community workers Non-ICU Hospital trained on IPC beds in TTMF 21 July 2020 2 WHO Philippines CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) Situation Report 45 Among the 70,764 confirmed cases, 56% are male, with most affected age groups 20-29 years (24.3%) followed by 30-39 years (24.2%). Gender distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases Age distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines in % in the Philippines in % 18 January-21 July 2020 (N=70,764) 18 January-21 July 2020 (N=70,764) Out of total 1,837 confirmed deaths, 62% are male, with most affected age group over 70 years of age (32.9%) followed by 60-69 years (28.8%). Gender distribution of confirmed COVID-19 deaths Age distribution of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the Philippines in % in the Philippines in % 18 January-21 July 2020 (N=1,837) 18 January-21 July 2020 (N=1,837) Map of confirmed COVID-19 cases by province Map of confirmed COVID-19 cases by city/municipality 18 January-21 July 2020 (N=70,764) 18 January-21 July 2020 (N=70,764) Map of COVID-19 Cases in NCR by City/Municipality 18 January-21 July 2020 (N=36,826) 21 July 2020 3 WHO Philippines CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) Situation Report 45 Strategic Approach The city of Paranaque warned residents it may go on lockdown for 2 weeks if the number of COVID cases continue to increase, as the city’s confirmed cases neared 2,000. As of 18 July, COVID-19 cases in the city have reached 1,944 with 72 deaths and 1,017 recoveries, with most new infections coming from Brgy. BF Homes and Sun Valley. Laboratory strengthening There are currently 67 laboratories certified to conduct COVID-19 testing by DOH using RT-PCR technology, as well as 23 laboratories using GeneXpert, with an additional 181 public and private laboratories under assessment. Some senators are pushing for the use of locally made test kits developed by the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) instead of the imported brands. The UP-developed kits are said to be at par or even better than some of the imported kits but cost much less. The DOH has said that the locally made kits would soon be rolled out for use after a defect which caused their recall was already resolved. Local news reported on the increasing number of NCR residents opting for rapid testing, with a second drive-through location opening in the city of Manila. Both locations are offering testing free of charge to both Manila residents and non-residents. Infection prevention and control Total reach of the IPC webinar in home and community settings is 9,495 individuals (76% female, 24% male): 6,419 through online webinars and 3,076 through face-to-face training across 98 rural health units in BARMM. UNICEF support the development of DOH PIMAM social media cards which were launched this week. The social media cards emphasize the importance of the continuation of nutritional assessment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (Accessible here) RCCE UNICEF continues to engage people on social media through critical COVID-19 messages which gathered an average of 527,085 impressions and reached a total of 29,940,860 users on Facebook. UNICEF released articles discussing: 21 July 2020 4 WHO Philippines CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) Situation Report 45 - COVID-19 as a child rights crisis - https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/14/covid-19-is-a-child-rights- crisis-says-unicef-representative/ - UNICEF partnership with Grab to raise funds for COVID-19 response - https://manilastandard.net/news/national/328846/unicef-grab-help-health-workers-children- amid-pandemic.html - UNICEF partnership with TikTok to share information with youth and influence social media platforms in being accountable in the protection of children - https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/hobbiesandactivities/747152/unicef-philippines- launches-tiktok-channel-to-share-relevant-information-to-youth/story/ Americares-Philippines distributed WASH IEC materials and various hand hygiene supplies to different health facilities, cities and municipalities in Cebu City and Cebu province. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) distributed 400 sleeping kits as a temporary shelter solution for returning Filipino migrants from Malaysia.