COVID-19 reproduction number in NCR rises to 4.05 – OCTA fellow

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 — Metro Manila’s reproduction number increased to 4.05, the highest since April 1, 2020, said OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Saturday.

The reproduction number refers to the average number of persons who can be potentially infected by the virus — the potential number of cases infected by a single positive case in a population susceptible to the infection.

Meanwhile, the seven-day average COVID-19 cases in the capital region also increased by 969 percent, from 90 the previous week’s to 962 cases, said David.

However, David said daily cases are expected to dip in the next two days due to lower testing output.

“Lower testing output will likely lead to a dip in the numbers in the NCR for January 2 and 3,” said David.

Earlier, the Department of Health reported 3,617 new COVID-19 infections, the highest number the department registered since Oct. 10 and almost double the number of the previous day’s.

The positivity rate nationwide is now also at 14.8 percent, much 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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