THE Department of Health (DOH) reported Tuesday, May 3, a decrease in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases recorded from April 26 to May 2 as compared to the previous week, with only 1,373 cases logged on those days.Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte during the latter’s Talk to the People Address aired Tuesday morning, May 3, that the 1,373 new cases were 136 less than the 1,509 infections recorded in the previous week.He said on May 2, 188 new infections were logged, bringing the total nationwide tally to 3,686,082, of which 5,303 have remained active.The daily average cases, meanwhile, stood at 196.The top regions that contributed to the number of cases include the National Capital Region (NCR) with 573 cases, followed by Calabarzon with 180 and Central Luzon with 110.Areas in the NCR that recorded the highest number of cases on April 26 to May 2 are Quezon City with 109, followed by Manila with 82 and Cavite with 70 cases.Duque said the country’s healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) remained low, as of Sunday, May 1, with 16.1 percent of intensive care unit (ICU) beds utilized. This means that only 456 of 2,830 ICU beds in the country were occupied.For non-ICU beds, 3998 out of 24,521 (16.3 percent) were utilized, while 723 (13.4 percent) out of 5,386 total admissions were considered severe and critical.The DOH said most regions in the country have been considered low risk for Covid-19, but Duque stressed that this does not mean that the public should be complacent.“Sumunod pa rin sa minimum public health standards, mag pabakuna and magpabooster (Continue to follow the minimum public health standards and have yourselves vaccinated and boosted),” Duque said.The health department earlier warned of a possible Covid-19 cases surge after the May 9 national and local elections if the public will not follow the minimum public health protocols, which include the wearing of face mask, proper handwashing and social distancing. (LMY)