COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila jumps to 11.5% – OCTA fellow

(FILE) Residents of Lupang Pangako in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City receive cash aid thru the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) at the Lupang Pangako Covered Court in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 11. -INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The positivity rate for COVID-19 in Metro Manila jumped to 11.5 percent, said OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Thursday.

This rate can lead to up to 1,000 cases in Metro Manila on Thursday, July 14 alone, according to David.

“A look at the plot of new COVID-19 cases in the NCR as of July 13, 2022 shows that the trend may have already peaked. However, the positivity rate increased to 11.5% (from 10.9% as of July  9), and this could lead to more than 1000 new cases in the NCR on July 14,” he said.

If there is really an uptick in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, David said the peak may be delayed and is expected to happen soon, “unless the wave becomes prolonged.”

David then noted that despite the high positivity rate, the COVID-19 reproduction number for Metro Manila dropped to 1.36.

David added that the COVID-19 hospitalization rate in Metro Manila also rose to 30.2 percent, with 1,856 hospital beds being occupied. Intensive care unit (ICU) capacity also slightly went up to 22.6 percent.

However, he clarified that both are still “within safe levels.”

“Nevertheless, let us all stay safe,” said David.

Previously, the Department of Health (DOH) projected that COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila may reach as high as 11,186 by the end of July if there will be continued non-compliance with minimum public health standards.

Apart from this, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also warned that the country may see an increase in hospital utilization rate by the end of August or the start of September.

David on Wednesday night also reported that the national positivity rate rocketed to 10.9 percent after the Department of Health reported an additional 1,604 infections, bringing active cases to 14,862.

RELATED STORY:

Mandatory COVID booster shots not yet necessary – DOH

PH detects 79 new COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant infections

/MUF