Metro Manila’s daily COVID-19 cases may be peaking — OCTA Research

Passengers, mostly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) queue at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, June 1, 2021. (REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez)

MANILA, Philippines — The daily COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila may be peaking since the reproduction number in the region decreased, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research revealed on Friday.

 “NCR daily new cases could be peaking already,” OCTA Research fellow Guido David said in a Twitter post. 

NCR daily new cases could be peaking already. Reproduction number down to 3.77. The next few days will clarify the trends. We must continue efforts to slow down the pandemic in the NCR. @dzbb @ABSCBNNews @dzrhnews @allangatus @NewsRmn @News5PH @dzme_1530khz @dwiz882 @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/KySlzg4fOz

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) January 13, 2022

David said this is due to the decreasing reproduction number (R0) in the region from 6.12 on January 3 to 3.77 on January 10.

 The R0 (pronounced as r-naught) indicates how infectious a disease is. 

For instance, an R0 of 1 means that each carrier transmits the virus to one person. The current R0 of 3.77  meant that each existing infection would cause more than three new infections.

 “While this is welcome news, it must be emphasized that we are not out of the woods yet, and the data in the next few days will clarify the trends,” David said.

 The Philippines has a record-high 34,021 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, which further padded the total number of cases to 3,092,409, including 237,387 active infections, 2,802,286 recoveries and 52,736 deaths.

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