COVID-19 cases rising in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu cities — OCTA Research

MANILA, Philippines — The reproduction number of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City is increasing, OCTA Research said Thursday.

Based on the latest monitoring report of the independent research group, the reproduction number,  or the rate of infection, in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City both increased to 1.37 and 1.80 respectively from July 8 to 14.

The reproduction number from July 1 to 7 was 1.36 in Cebu City and 1.56 in Lapu-Lapu City. “The infection rate in Lapu-Lapu is considered very high. As of July 13, ICU utilization rates (ICUUR) were still low in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu,” said OCTA.

OCTA said the only other local government unit with a very high infection rate was Mariveles, Bataan, which recorded more than 200 new cases in one day.

It added, however, that the LGU reported very low numbers in the subsequent days, which suggests that the spike in cases was due to a clustering from lags in data reporting.

Mariveles is still considered a very high-risk area for COVID-19.

The table below from OCTA Research shows LGUs outside Metro Manila with the highest number of new COVID-19 cases from July 8 to 14.

Article continues after this advertisement Davao City still has the highest number of average daily new cases from the said period.
Table from OCTA Research The infection rate was low in Metro Manila and Bacolod, according to OCTA Research.

Moderate risk areas include Metro Manila, Cebu City, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and Lapu-Lapu. On the other hand, high-risk areas include Davao City, Iloilo City, Baguio City, and Santa Rosa, Laguna.

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ICU utilization rate was also very high, or greater than 85 percent, in Davao City, Iloilo City, and Santa Rosa.

OCTA said the NCR Plus area, which covers Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan, would benefit from an extension of the general community quarantine until the end of July.  

Metro Manila, Rizal, and Bulacan are under GCQ “with some restrictions” while Laguna and Cavite are under GCQ “with heightened restrictions” until July 15. h

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