FILE PHOTO: A health worker walks around to check on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients admitted in the chapel of Quezon City General Hospital turned into a COVID-19 ward amid rising infections, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 20, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MANILA, Philippines — Early monitoring indicate that the surge of COVID-19 cases may have already peaked in Metro Manila, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research said Saturday.
“Early indications are that the surge may have already peaked in the NCR (National Capital Region). The reproduction number decreased to 1.22, while the positivity rate decreased to 24%,” OCTA senior fellow Guido David said over Twitter.
Reproduction number is the average number of people infected by a coronavirus-infected individual, while positivity rate is the percentage of people found positive for the virus among those tested.
9.18.21. Early indications are that the surge may have already peaked in the NCR, but efforts must be sustained to ensure the trend continues downward. @dzbb @allangatus @cnnphilippines @dzrhnews @smninews @News5PH @dwiz882 @RMMendozaMT @haydeesampang @sarchavez @CarolynBonquin pic.twitter.com/IunYrWUVwO
— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) September 18, 2021
“Due to backlog, expect that there will be days when cases could still spike. Efforts must be sustained because trends may still reverse, i.e. cases may increase again if care is not taken,” David added.
In a message to INQUIRER.net, David noted that it is not yet definite that cases in Metro Manila have already peaked.
“The statement was, we may have already peaked, but it will be clearer in the coming week. The single-day peak so far was 9,000 cases last Saturday,” he added.
Metro Manila currently has 52,561 active cases of COVID-19, including the 5,156 additional infections logged on Friday. Nationwide, there are 188,108 active cases of the disease, including 20,336 new cases.