DOH: COVID-19 cases drop during long holiday

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1) — The Department of Health (DOH) said it recorded a decrease in COVID-19 cases in the country during the last few days of 2023 compared to pre-holidays when the number of respiratory illnesses shot up.

“The last report na binigay sa akin ng epidemiology bureau noong Dec. 30, nagkasama pa kami nag-rounds kami ni Dir. Dr. Alethea De Guzman… Kumonti. I guess, maraming nag-uwian sa probinsya because of the long holiday of the new year,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said on Monday.

[Translation: Based on our Dec. 30 rounds with Director Dr. Alethea De Guzman of the Epidemiology Bureau, the cases decreased. I guess it’s because many people went home to their provinces during the long holiday of the new year.]

The DOH, however, did not provide data covering Dec. 30-31.

Based on the latest information available on the department's COVID-19 tracker website, the Philippines logged an additional 521 cases last Dec. 29, which was higher than the daily cases recorded on Dec. 24 and 26.

That brought total cases since the start of the pandemic to 4,135,345, with 5,757 active cases. Up to 4,062,775 recovered, and 66,813 died.

Herbosa said the drop in cases may be because people tend to celebrate New Year’s Day at their homes compared to the long week holiday rush before Christmas Day, where he said public celebrations and shopping sales usually happen.

“So talagang tumaas noon ang respiratory illnesses. Hindi lang COVID-19, including influenza-like illnesses,” he added.

[Translation: So, the cases increased that time, not only COVID-19 but also respiratory illnesses like influenza-like illnesses.]

Herbosa assured the public that COVID-19 can now be considered as “one of the diseases” with low cases. The cases in hospitals are only a few now, he added.