COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila low at 3.7% — OCTA

File photo shows medical workers preparing COVID-19 coronavirus vaccines at the Makati Coliseum in Makati City on November 29, 2021 (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines – The seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila is now considered “low” as it fell further from 5.8 to 3.7 percent between Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, the OCTA Research Group said Monday. 

OCTA  Research fellow Guido David, in a social media post, said “low” positivity rates were likewise observed in 10 other provinces across Luzon: 

• Batangas – 4.9 to 3.2 percent
• Benguet – 5.3 to 3.6 percent
• Bulacan – 3.5 to 2.3 percent
• Cagayan – 7.0 to 3.9 percent
• Cavite – 5.5 to 3.2 percent
• Ilocos Norte – 4.3 to 3.9 percent
• Laguna – 7.3 to 4.4 percent 
• Pampanga – 5.5 to 2.6 percent 
• Pangasinan – 4.3 to 3.9 percent 
• Zambales – 8.4 to 4.1 percent 

In Isabela, however, David pointed out that the “positivity rate increased from 35.1 percent to 50.2 percent – considered very high.” 

Meanwhile, these were the movements in the positivity rates logged in other Luzon provinces:

• Albay – 25.6 to 7.7 percent
• Bataan – 6.3 to 6.1 percent
• Camarines Sur – 15.2 to 17.6 percent 
• La Union — 5.5 to 6.3 percent
• Nueva Ecija –11.2 to 7.4 percent
• Quezon – 6.4 to 5.4 percent
• Rizal – 10.9 to 9.4 percent
• Tarlac – 11.2 to 12.5 percent

The Department of Health on Sunday reported 279 fresh COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of active cases across the country to 12,143. 

The COVID-19 death toll in the Philippines now stands at 65,590 with 15 new deaths recorded. 

OCTA Research is projecting 150 to 250 more COVID-19 infections to be logged on Monday, according to David.

 gsg