(FILE) Commuters onboard public transport in Metro Manila. INQUIRER/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila and in other eight areas has breached the 10 percent mark. This is double the benchmark set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research said on Saturday.
The WHO set the ideal COVID-19 positivity rate benchmark at 5 percent.
Positivity rate refers to the number of all tests conducted for COVID-19 that yielded positive results.
OCTA research fellow Guido David said that the positivity rate of Metro Manila as of July 9 is now at 10.4 percent from 8.3 percent recorded on July 2.
Meanwhile, the positivity rate of Antique, Batangas, Capiz, Cavite, Iloilo, Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal has also breached the 10 percent mark, according to David.
Positivity rates as of July 7 2022 in select areas in the PH. NCR positivity rate increased from 8.3% (as of July 2) to 10.4%. Positivity rates are also above 10% in Antique, Batangas, Capiz, Cavite, Iloilo, Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal. @dzbb @dzrhnews @allangatus @DZAR1026 @News5PH pic.twitter.com/slfYPzjCJe
— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) July 9, 2022
The COVID-19 positivity rate in Antique is now at 18.9 percent; Batangas (10.5 percent), Capiz, (17.8 percent), Cavite (16.2 percent), Iloilo (10.9 percent), Laguna (16.2 percent), Pampanga (16.1 percent) and Rizal (15.7 percent).
The Department of Health (DOH) said the current COVID-19 positivity rate nationwide is at 6.8 percent.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the positivity rate should not be the sole metric for assessing the country’s current COVID-19 situation, saying it is also important to consider the overall picture of transmission and case severity.
As of Friday, the Philippines has recorded a total of 3,714,770 cases of the new coronavirus, including 12,528 active cases, 3,641,603 recoveries and 60,639 deaths, according to DOH COVID-19 case tracker.