COVID cases in NCR up by 50%; reproduction number now in ‘critical levels’ — OCTA

Barriers have been set up in several villages in Pasay City to prohibit non-residents from going in and out of these communities as Metro Manila undergoes another round of lockdown to contain the spread of corvid-19. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) have increased by 50 percent as the reproduction number (R0) reached “critical levels,” a team of researchers said on Saturday.

In its latest data bulletin, the OCTA Research group said Metro Manila recorded 2,901 cases from August 7 to 13, which is 50 percent higher than the 1,930 cases from July 31 to August 6.

The R0 in the NCR is now at 1.85, which is now at “critical levels.” The R0 indicates how infectious a disease is, and an R0 of 1.85 means that every patient transmits the virus to more than one patient.

The R0 nationwide is at 1.45.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate in Metro Manila is at 19 percent, while the rate nationwide is higher at 22 percent.

The World Health Organisation said the positivity rate must be 5 percent or below to indicate a controlled transmission of the virus.

The Department of Health on Friday reported 13,177 cases, which is the second-highest case since the pandemic began in the country.

As of Friday, the Philippines has reported 1,713,302 cases including 96,395 active cases, 1,587,069 recoveries, and 29,838 deaths.

/MUF