Total COVID-19 cases breach 3.7 million

Stock image of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the deadly respiratory illness COVID-19. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 positivity rate has slightly increased in Metro Manila, according to independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research.

OCTA fellow Guido David, in a post on Twitter, said the National Capital Region’s one-week positivity rate slightly went up from 14.2 percent on July 23 to 15 percent on July 29.

The World Health Organization’s benchmark positivity rate of below 5 percent, sustained for two weeks, indicates that virus transmission is under control.

But David said that new COVID-19 cases are not very fatal, adding that the increase in cases does not translate to an increase in hospitalization rate. David also reported “very high positivity,” or above 20 percent in at least 14 areas in Luzon.

The positivity rate was seen highest in Isabela at 36.3 percent on Friday, compared to its 25.7 percent on July 23.

The new cases brought the number of active cases across the country to 33,509, according to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 tracker.

The total confirmed cases in the Philippines are now at 3,772,468 since the pandemic started. Of this figure, 3,678,240 have recovered and 60,719 died.

Metro Manila had the most number of new cases in the past 14 days with 13,837; followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) with 9,069; Central Luzon with 4,273; Western Visayas with 2,482; and Central Visayas with 1,725.

—TINA G. SANTOS

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