Metro Manila may see a decrease of as low as 1,000 in the average daily new cases of Covid-19 by November 2021 if the region maintains the downward trend in its case count.

“If we will look at the daily cases, we will be averaging about 1,100 cases by November 15 here in the National Capital Region (NCR). If this continues and we further control the transmission of the virus, we hope that by Christmastime we would see an easing of restrictions,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said partly in Filipino in a Laging Handa briefing on Saturday.

Vergeire said a majority of the regions are showing a negative two-week growth rate in terms of reported Covid-19 cases, including in the NCR.

However, some areas’ case classification remains at high risk – the Cordillera region, Cagayan Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Caraga.

She also noted that while cases and admissions are decreasing in Metro Manila, decongestion in hospitals would not be instantaneous because the recovery period among the patients could last 21 days or more, especially for those in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Vergeire reported that some hospitals in Metro Manila are still full and the DOH continues to assist them in any way possible to augment their capacity.

“This is not a point where we get complacent. We need to remain vigilant and protect ourselves so that we can sustain this downward trend in cases,” she said partly in Filipino.

Vergeire said the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is set to discuss next week the possibility of expanding the Covid-19 alert levels system outside Metro Manila.

The NCR is under Alert Level 4 from September 16 until October 15.