QC residents urged to observe health protocols amid Omicron threat

NOT PHYSICALLY DISTANT Passengers sit in line for bus rides close to one another in Cubao, Quezon City, on Wednesday, many forgetting to keep their physical distance from each other. It is one of the health measures that is not complied with strictly to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to health officials. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government on Thursday reminded its citizens to observe public health protocols amid the threat of the Omicron COVID-19 variant and the rising COVID-19 cases in the city.

The city government issued the reminder after it reported that the positivity rate in the city is now at  1.82 percent.

The positivity rate refers to the number of positive cases in total tests conducted.

The city government also reported that its reproduction number has increased to 0.60 from the previous week’s 0.36. Reproduction number refers to the average number of persons who can be potentially infected by the virus.

Meanwhile, the number of fully-vaccinated citizens in Quezon City is now at 2,071,903 with 2,045,180 residents having completed the first dose of the vaccine.

Earlier, the Department of Health reported 1,623 new COVID-19 infections, the highest number the department registered since Nov. 21 and almost double the number of the previous day’s.

The positivity rate nationwide is now also at 6.6 percent, its highest this month and since Nov. 4. This is higher than the 5 percent threshold of the World Health Organization for controlled transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

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