The Department of Health on Friday said more cases of non-Covid diseases are being reported compared to last year.

"In general, more cases are being reported under surveillance of non-COVID diseases when compared to last year," said Dr. Althea de Guzman, Health department's Epidemiology Bureau Director.  

De Guzman is referring to the recent increase in the number of cases of non-Covid diseases such as waterborne and foodborne illnesses, influenza-like illnesses, leptospirosis, and dengue. 

"This may be attributed to more active disease surveillance activities and the expected increased risk of transmission due to increased mobility," she said. 

The remarks came at a time when both foreign and local health experts are setting the tone that Covid-19 is nearing its endemic stage.

Despite the improvement in the Covid-19 situation, the Health department reiterated it will let the World Health Organization decide whether the government could declare that country is nearing the Covid-19 endemic stage. 

"The DOH will continue to observe the situation locally and internationally, and wait on our global health partners such as the World Health Organization to declare that the state of Public Health Emergency is over," the agency said in a statement. 

Likewise, it also encouraged the public to continue protecting themselves against the severe form of Covid-19 by following health protocols and by getting vaccinated.

"To limit mutations of the virus, transmission should be mitigated through vaccination. With emerging and re-emerging variants and sub-variants reported to have higher immune-evasive characteristics, the DoH stresses the importance of getting boosted against the virus," the Health department said.

"Completing our booster doses and adhering to our health protocols will prevent severe and critical cases, and protect our hospitals and healthcare facilities from getting overwhelmed," it added.