The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday reported an increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus areas and the Visayas even though the country remains under low-risk classification.

During an online media forum, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the nation’s average daily attack rate continues to decrease in the recent week but more regions show “trend reversal to a positive two-week growth rate”.

“Since the surge (in March to April), the NCR cases have continuously gone down, while (that of) Region 6 and the other regions show consistent increase and are now taking a larger part in the total number of cases in our country,” Vergeire added.

For the week of July 16 to 22, the average daily reported cases nationwide are 5,666, higher by 626 than the previous week’s 5,040 cases.

In the NCR, the seven-day moving average shows sign of increasing trend as cases in the recent week has exceeded the previous week by 179 cases.

NCR’s average daily reported cases for the week of July 16 to 22 is 797.

The upward trend in cases was also seen in Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas where a steep rise in infections was recorded – from 422 (July 9) to 577 (July 16).

Meanwhile, a downward trend in cases was observed in Bicol, Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Eastern Visayas.

“In Mindanao, Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) is showing a fast increase in cases, Caraga and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) are also showing cases increase. Regions 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) and 11 (Davao), exhibiting continuous downward trend in cases, while case trend in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) is plateauing,” Vergeire said.