COVID-19 reproduction number in NCR down to 1.16 — OCTA

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MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 reproduction number in Metro Manila decreased to 1.16 for the previous week as OCTA Research notes a downward trend of new coronavirus cases in Pasay, Manila, Marikina, Taguig, and Mandaluyong.

The latest reproduction number covers April 9 to 15, based on the monitoring report released by OCTA Research on Friday.

“The average number of new COVID-19 cases reported per day in the NCR (National Capital Region) was 5,085 over the past week, with a one-week growth rate of -0.4%,” the research group added.

In its report on Saturday, OCTA said the reproduction rate in Metro Manila already decreased to 1.23 from 1.88 before the region and its neighboring provinces were placed under enhanced community quarantine.

OCTA also noted that the positivity rate in Metro Manila was 24 percent over the past week, a slight improvement from the 25 percent positivity rate from the preceding week.

The NCR had an average of 28,000 tests per day over the past seven days.

Hospital bed occupancy in the region for COVID-19 patients was 65 percent while ICU utilization was 85 percent.

According to OCTA Research, Metro Manila accounted for 47 percent of newly reported COVID-19 cases over the past week, while 20 percent were from Calabarzon, 11 percent were from Central Luzon, 5 percent were from Cagayan Valley and 4 percent were from Western Visayas.

The one-week growth rate of new cases in Calabarzon and Bulacan was 14 percent, while the one-week growth rate in Western Visayas was highest at 97 percent. Cagayan Valley, on the other hand, had a one-week growth rate of -14 percent.

OCTA said downward trends were observed in the cities of Pasay, Manila, Marikina, Taguig and Mandaluyong “with two weeks or more of negative one-week growth rates.”

“While the trend has slowed in the NCR, the region will continue to have a high number of new Covid-19 cases for the next weeks, which means demand for hospital care in the NCR will not ease very soon,” the researchers noted.

“People must continue to strictly comply with prevailing health guidelines in order to help prevent the spread of the virus in the region,” they added.

According to OCTA Research, the largest one-week growth rate in the NCR Plus was in Kawit, Cavite, which logged 83 new COVID-19 cases per day over the past week, or an increase of 417 percent compared to the previous week.

The country has so far recorded a total of 914,971 COVID-19 cases as of Friday, including 193,476 active infections.

JPV