OCTA notes higher COVID-19 positivity rate; DOH says no such increase

MANILA, Philippines — Independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research said Tuesday that the country’s COVID-19 positivity rate slightly increased. However, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified that it does not see an increase in the figure.

On Twitter, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said that the Philippines’ positivity rate went slightly higher from the previous 2.4 percent to 2.5 percent, while the reproduction number also increased from the previous 0.23 to 0.29.

But in an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire clarified that the DOH has not observed such an increase.

Philippines positivity rate up slightly to 2.5% while reproduction number increased slightly to 0.29. The country remained under VERY LOW RISK but let's continue to stay safe @dzbb @dzrhnews @DZAR1026 @News5PH @allangatus @ali_sotto @dwiz882 @NewsRmn @PhilstarNews @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/pd9cbzh9dB

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) March 22, 2022

“Wala naman kaming nakitang pagtaas ng positivity rate because we’re monitoring this (We haven’t seen an increase in the positivity rate because we’re monitoring this),” she said.

Vergeire also noted that the health department measures the positivity rate weekly and not per day as several factors may affect the computation of the daily positivity rate.

“We don’t measure it per day because there are a lot of factors that may affect the computation of daily positivity rate which can bias ito pong nakukuha niyong resulta and can be able and can affect decision and policymaking.”

(We don’t measure it per day because there are a lot of factors that may affect the computation of daily positivity rate, which can produce biased results and can affect decision and policy making.)

Vergeire emphasized that the country’s positivity rate decreased from 3.2 percent to 2.7 percent from the previous week.

“We are not seeing any increases in our positivity rates. Instead, what we are seeing is the decrease in our positivity rate even in NCR (National Capital Region),” she said.

“From the previous week, it was at 2.8 percent positivity rate. Now it’s down to 2.6 percent for this week. No increases,” she added.

OCTA Research, meanwhile, reminded that the public must continue to follow minimum public health standards even if the country remained under very low risk status for COVID-19. Jericho Zafra, INQUIRER.net intern

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