Metro Manila is still under low-risk case classification for Covid-19, the Department of Health (DoH) said Thursday, 16 June.,In a statement, the DoH said that Metro Manila showed a positive two-week growth rate (TWGR) while maintaining its average daily attack rate (ADAR) below 6 at less than 1 case per 100,000 population.,The agency also noted that the healthcare utilization rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) remains to be at low risk.,“At this stage of the pandemic, infections are expected. Most of them will be asymptomatic, mild, or moderate — thanks to vaccination, boosters, and health protocols,” the DoH said.,Metro Manila would require at least 818 cases daily for two weeks to reach an ADAR of 6 cases per 100k population, according to the agency.,It also noted that for an area to be classified under moderate risk, it should have a positive TWGR and ADAR of at least 6 average cases per day per 100,000 population.,“From the perspective of healthcare utilization rate (HCUR), there should also be moderate risk HCUR for escalation to Alert Level 2 to happen,” it added.,Earlier, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the NCR’s risk classification for Covid-19 has escalated from low risk to moderate risk.,“Based on our metrics—this is our metrics and not necessarily the same as the one used by the Department of Health—Metro Manila has moved from low to moderate risk,” David said in a televised interview.,However, in a tweet on Thursday afternoon, he retracted his earlier statement, citing that based on their metrics, Metro Manila remains at a low-risk case classification.,“Yes. However, our forecasts indicate that the classification is likely to change soon. Our indicators are based on Covid Act Now, which was developed by Harvard Health Institute with Bloomberg,” Guido said when asked if his tweet was meant to rectify his earlier statement.,The Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases had approved recommendations to place the NCR and other areas under Alert Level 1 from 16 June to 30 June.