COVID-19 spread in Metro Manila slows down, 5 cities at ‘moderate risk’ — OCTA

FILE PHOTO: An area on granular lockdown in Metro Manila in an effort to stop the spread of the more contagious variants of the new coronavirus. INQUIRER/NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research on Wednesday reported that  COVID-19 infection in Metro Manila continues to slow down, with five cities now considered under “moderate risk.”

OCTA Research fellow Guido David said that while Metro Manila remains at “high risk,” the cities of Caloocan, Navotas, Malabon, Valenzuela and Manila are now under the “moderate risk” category.

In the NCR, Caloocan, Navotas, Malabon, Valenzuela and Manila have improved to moderate risk. The rest of the NCR is still at high risk. Still we cannot let our guards down. Let’s continue to follow health protocols and stay safe. @dzbb @dzrhnews @allangatus @DZAR1026 @ali_sotto pic.twitter.com/TbK3mH47T0

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) January 26, 2022

The current reproduction number (R0) in NCR is also down to 0.63 from 1.20 last week, according to David.

The R0 (pronounced as r-naught) indicates how infectious a disease is. For instance, a R0 of 1 means that for each carrier transmits the virus to one person. The current R0 of 0.63 meant that each existing infection would cause less than one infection.

David, meanwhile, added that Metro Manila overall could be under “moderate risk” by “next week.”

“Still we cannot let our guards down,” David said in his Twitter post.

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