Covid cases down by 15%

By Kaithreen Cruz, Manila Times

THE nationwide seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases further dropped to 2,959 as of August 27, a 15-percent decline from the previous week, according to OCTA Research.

OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said the seven-day average was at its highest just two weeks ago at 4,071 cases.

The average daily attack rate (ADAR) was 2.69 per 100,000 population — classified as low — as the reproduction rate, or the number of new cases caused by one infected individual, slid from 0.96 on August 17 to 0.91 on August 24.

A decrease in the positivity rate was also observed, from 16.2 to 14.3 percent as of August 26.

"If the current trends in the growth rate hold, this projects to less than 1,000 cases per day nationwide by mid-September and less than 500 per day by end of September," David said.

The World Health Organization set a 5-percent positivity rate benchmark to indicate that the infection is under control.

OCTA also observed that the Covid-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region (NCR) was going down, to 0.99 on August 23 from 1.02 on August 16.

It was the first time since last May 11 that the reproduction number in Metro Manila had dropped below 1.

Covid positivity rate in NCR dips

David said infected numbers might be finally trending down, although at a slower rate.

The NCR positivity rate was at 13.6 percent on August 25, down by 1.1 percent from August 18, with new cases also decreasing to a seven-day average of 1,002 and a one-week growth rate of -9 percent.

"With the current pace, it could take eight weeks before the positivity rate decreases to less than five percent," David predicted.

Health care utilization for Covid-19 and ICU occupancy in NCR both dropped — from 37 to 35 percent and from 31 to 27 percent, respectively, from August 20 to August 25.

Last Friday, Department of Health (DoH) Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded Filipinos to get vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 to prevent hospitalization and deaths due to the virus.

The Pinas Lakas campaign is trying to administer booster shots to 23 million Filipinos before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first 100 days in office.

The DoH has administered 17.5 million boosters, 4.8 million of which were from NCR.

Vergeire noted that 60 percent of severe and critical Covid cases were either unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated.

Covid: Austria and Germany decide to ease rules

 

Covid restrictions have meant limited attendances in Germany's Bundesliga but that will gradually change.

Austria and Germany have both announced plans to relax Covid-19 measures, weeks after pushing for compulsory vaccinations to curb infections.

Although unvaccinated people will still face restrictions, Germans are being promised a "freedom day" on 20 March while most measures will be dropped in Austria on 5 March.

The Omicron variant has not led to a feared surge in hospital admissions.

However, Germany's chancellor still aims to make vaccinations mandatory.

"The pandemic isn't over," said Olaf Scholz after a summit with Germany's 16 states. Legislation on compulsory jabs has been left for parliament to decide but the chancellor said it remained important especially ahead of next autumn and winter.

Austria passed a law earlier this month that made vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory, the first country in Europe to do so.

However, no-one will be penalised for breaking the law until 16 March, and the government has until then to decide whether to suspend the requirement. Chancellor Karl Nehammer said an advisory commission would recommend how best to proceed.

Much of Europe has already announced plans to loosen Covid restrictions as infections fall. Switzerland has announced that from Thursday Covid certificates are not needed to enter bars, restaurants or other indoor venues.

The Netherlands is to lift most measures by 25 February, with bars returning to normal hours and masks no longer compulsory in most settings

France has already scrapped mask requirements outdoors and aims to drop the measure indoors from mid-March if conditions allow

Norway lifted its last measures on 12 February, declaring coronavirus "no longer a major health threat to most of us"

Most restrictions have been lifted in England and some measures remain in Scotland and Wales.

Germany's leaders agreed on Wednesday to a three-step plan, starting with a raising of numbers of vaccinated and recovered people allowed to hold private indoor meetings, as well as Covid checks in non-essential shops.

From 4 March, anyone who has been vaccinated or who has recovered from Covid will be allowed into bars and hotels without a test while unvaccinated people will be let in with a test.

Then from 20 March most other restrictions will be scrapped, apart from rules on masks. Attendances at major outdoor events will go up from 10,000 to up to 25,000 (or 75% capacity) on 4 March, with the prospect of full stadiums on 20 March.

Chancellor Scholz said it was a "very special day" and Germany could look to the future with greater confidence than before. Although case numbers on Wednesday were still almost 220,000 over 24 hours, the seven-day rate of infection has fallen.

In Austria, only highly vulnerable settings such as nursing homes and hospitals will retain Covid restrictions from 5 March. Catering will be allowed overnight and Covid passes will not be needed, although masks will be needed on public transport and in essential shops.

As early as Saturday, anyone who has not been vaccinated will be allowed to enter places limited in recent months to those showing proof of vaccination or recovery.