The Philippines’ health department on Thursday warned of a possible surge in COVID-19 cases in the country as compliance with public health practices declines.
The warning came as tens of thousands of Filipinos traveled to the provinces and out of the country for the Easter holiday, coupled with restrictions easing.
According to data analysis by a technical working group of the Department of Health, Filipinos were doing less of the recommended health practices, such as wearing face masks correctly, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing.
The department said if people remain complacent, cases would again start to increase by the middle of May, even if more people get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Within the capital region of Metro Manila alone, “estimates showed that a 50 percent decrease in (public health practices) compliance may lead to around 25,000 to 60,000 new cases per day. That will bring the number of active cases in the region to almost half a million by mid-May,” it said.
It added that is more than three times higher than the active cases during the peak of the wave caused by the Omicron variant.
The Philippines’ total COVID-19 caseload since the pandemic began was at 3.62 million as of Wednesday when 233 new cases were reported.
The death toll was 59,891, according to the health department.
Nearly 60 percent of the Philippines’ population of 110 million have been vaccinated against COVID-19.