Expert: Most COVID-19 cases now mild despite QC spike

MANILA, Philippines — Most COVID-19 infections currently circulating in the country are generally mild and resolve within a few days, an infectious disease expert said Tuesday, urging the public to remain cautious but not alarmed despite a recent localized spike in cases reported in Quezon City.

Speaking on state-run PTV-4 on Tuesday, Dr. Rontgene Solante of San Lazaro Hospital said the current rise in COVID-19 cases in Quezon City should not be a cause for public concern because the prevailing variants are no longer associated with severe disease in most patients.

“This is not something to be concerned about because most of the COVID-19 cases we encountered only experienced mild symptoms such as colds and coughs, and would eventually recover within three to four days,” he said.

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Solante explained that the increase in COVID-19 cases in Quezon City was “normal,” as it coincides with the rainy season from June to November, when respiratory viral infections—including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, and COVID-19—typically become more common.

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He stressed that while infections continue to occur, the circulating COVID-19 variants are the same strains that have been spreading since 2024, which are “no longer as virulent and are generally not associated with severe illness or death.”

READ: QC Mayor: No reason to panic over hike in Covid-19 cases

Data from the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (QCESD) showed that confirmed Covid-19 cases increased by over 265 percent to 84 from June 11 to July 1, up from 23 cases recorded between May 21 and June 10.

Since January, the Quezon City government has recorded a total of 146 confirmed cases.

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Of the recent cases, only 17 or 14 percent required hospital admission, while 108 or 86 percent were managed as outpatients, according to the Department of Health.

Around 70 percent, or the majority of the patients, have already recovered.

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Children aged 14 years and below accounted for the largest share of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 30 percent.

Meanwhile, adults aged 25 to 29, and senior citizens aged 60 and above each accounted for 16 percent of cases.

Solante said the large number of COVID-19 cases among children aged 14 and below in Quezon City may be due to increased exposure in schools, where classrooms are often crowded and students interact closely with one another.

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“Children in this age group are already attending school, and classrooms are usually crowded. Some students have colds or coughs, so transmission can easily occur,” he said. /jpv

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For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

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