Despite higher numbers on Sunday, there won’t be a rise in COVID cases yet — Octa

LIFE-SIZE REMINDER A mannequin in a personal protective equipment suit is put up in front of a store along Carriedo Street in Quiapo, Manila, to remind people that there is still a COVID-19 pandemic. — MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Independent pandemic monitor Octa Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Monday said that he does not observe an increase in COVID-19 cases despite the over 2,000 new infections recently logged.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday recorded 2,227 fresh COVID-19 cases in the country and 175 more fatalities.

“I don’t see a rise in cases. Even with the high number of cases yesterday (likely due to backlog), the 7-day average remained at 1347 with a reproduction number of 0.38 and 1-week growth rate of -32%,” David posted on Twitter.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire early Monday said that the country’s current average of reported cases is at 1,436 while 315 in Metro Manila, both lower by 28 percent from the previous week.

Vergeire noted that the country’s COVID-19 infection trend is plateauing.

She also pointed out that the number of deaths is high due to late reporting, with some fatalities recorded back in August, as local government units validate the data.

Over the weekend, more people can be seen in public places, especially the malls where families bring along children who have been mostly locked down at home to prevent them from catching the virus outside.

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