From an Infection to A Catastrophe: A COVID-19 Epidemiological Assessment of the Philippines from January 1 to March 13 of 2022 And 2023

Abstract

This epidemiological assessment analyzes the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines from January 1 to March 13 of 2022 and January 1 to March 13 of 2023. The study evaluates six epidemiological parameters: incidence, prevalence, total cases, daily deaths, total deaths, and daily case fatality rate. Publicly available data from the Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization (WHO), Worldometer, and Andra Farm were utilized for comparison. Findings reveal that 2022 recorded significantly higher daily incidence in the thousands compared to 2023, where cases were mostly in the hundreds or below. Prevalence ranged from 17,000 to 291,000 in 2022, while in 2023 it ranged from 8,000 to 13,000. Total cases increased by 823,408 from January 1 to March 13, 2022, compared to only 13,223 during the same period in 2023. A total of 6,065 deaths were recorded from January to March 13, 2022, whereas 820 deaths were recorded during the same period in 2023. The highest daily case fatality rate was 0.75% on January 1, 2022, and 0.67% in 2023. The data demonstrate a marked decline in COVID-19 severity in 2023 compared to 2022, potentially attributed to increased vaccination coverage, improved case management, and adherence to minimum public health standards. Despite declining trends, continued vigilance remains necessary.