INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines— The number of COVID-19 cases recorded in the country daily may drop to as low as less than 500 by the end of November if current trends continue, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research Group said Monday.
OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said COVID-19 cases and positivity rates are currently dropping, especially in Metro Manila where the positivity rate is at 8.9% and a seven-day case average of 210 per day, the lowest since the last outbreak.
Metro Manila’s reproduction number also declined to 0.68 and its growth rate is at -38%. The capital region’s daily attack rate, meanwhile, is at 1.46 and the hospital utilization rate is at 28%.
The Philippines’ seven-day COVID-19 case average is also only around 907 cases per day, with a -30% growth rate.
“Dahil dito sa mga numero na iyan na nakikita natin at patuloy na pababang bilang ng kaso ay mukhang, we’re hoping, maganda-ganda iyong magiging holidays natin; wala masyadong infections,” David said in a public briefing.
(Because of the current numbers, we can see that the cases are declining. With this, we’re hoping that everyone would have a nice holiday and negligible infections.)
“Baka by end of November, baka less than 500 cases na lang tayo sa buong Pilipinas at baka nasa mga 100 na lang tayo sa Metro Manila, of course, kung magpatuloy iyong trend na ito,” he added.
(Maybe by the end of November there would be less than 500 cases in the whole Philippines and maybe it could reduce to 100 cases in Metro Manila, of course, if the trend continues.)
David attributed the downtrend in COVID-19 cases to the public’s continued adherence to health protocols such as wearing masks.
“Tingin natin, iyong mga kababayan natin, natuto na rin tayo how to protect ourselves. Ako, confident ako na magpapatuloy ang trend kasi, ayun nga, ang mga kababayan natin ay natuto na tayong protektahan ang sarili natin,” he said.
(We believe that our countrymen already learned to protect each other. I am confident that the trend will continue because our fellow Filipinos know how to protect themselves.)
“Hindi na natin kailangan isarado ang ating ekonomiya o iyong ating tourism industry,” the Octa fellow added.
(We don’t need to close the economy or the tourism industry)
Other reasons for the decline in cases, David said, included COVID-19 vaccination drives, and the achieved wall of immunity and hybrid immunity of Filipinos. – Joshua Go, Trainee
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