The Philippines is “better prepared” for a surge in COVID-19 infections, according to the country’s top health official, as the government plans to relax health protocols even further.

According to Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge of the Department of Health, the country’s healthcare system was able to “manage” hospital admissions due to COVID-19 in recent months.

“Sa tingin natin sa ngayon, we are better prepared if and when na tataas uli ang kaso at mangyari itong sinasabi nating projections,” she said in a press briefing.

(We think we are better prepared if and when cases increase again and this is what we are saying in our projections.)

Vergeire was referring to the Department of Health’s most recent forecast of up to 18,000 daily COVID-19 cases by the end of the year.

Despite the presence of more contagious coronavirus variants, the government plans to lift the indoor mask mandate. The agency also investigated vaccination coverage in the country and public compliance with health protocols.

Vergeire reminded the public that their predictions are “not set in stone.”

“Hindi na-project ang numero, mangyayari talaga,” she added. “These projections are used for the government to plan, for the government to prepare, and for the government to be guided.”

The number of COVID-19 cases decreased by 22% between Oct. 17 and Oct. 23 when compared to the previous week.

In the previous week, the country saw an average of 1,714 daily infections.

There were 21,215 active COVID-19 cases in the country as of Thursday.

Around 73.5 million Filipinos have been fully immunized against the virus, with 20.5 million receiving a booster shot.