Octa: COVID-19 reproduction number rises to 0.83 in Metro Manila

FILE PHOTO Swab specimen collection at the Caloocan City Hall. — INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 reproduction number in Metro Manila further increased to 0.83 but the region’s one-week growth rate dipped to -4%, independent analytics group Octa Research reported.

Octa Research fellow Guido David said the reproduction number increased to 0.83 from the 0.79 reported on Sunday, with 75 new cases recorded on May 2.

Even though the reproduction number — or the average number of persons who can be potentially infected by the virus — increased, it is still within experts’ ideal figure of less than one to indicate a downward trend in cases.

The one-week growth rate, meanwhile, decreased to -4% from the 7% reported on Sunday, David said.

He also noted a “slight” increase of the healthcare utilization rate in the metropolis from 21% to 22%

“With 75 new cases reported today May 2, 2022, the NCR erased the uptick as the 1 week growth rate dipped to -4%. The reproduction number increased to 0.83 while healthcare utilization increased slightly to 22%,” he said on a Twitter post on Monday.

With 75 new cases reported today May 2, 2022, the NCR erased the uptick as the 1 week growth rate dipped to -4%. The reproduction number increased to 0.83 while healthcare utilization increased slightly to 22%. @dzbb @DZAR1026 @dzrhnews @News5PH @allangatus @NewsRmn @dwiz882 pic.twitter.com/dCNBq2gGKQ

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) May 2, 2022

Caloocan reported the most number of new COVID-19 cases with 12 cases, closely followed by Manila with 11 new infections, David said.

New NCR cases by LGU on 5.2.22 extracted from https://t.co/GUBv99qV6l. @dzbb @dzrhnews @allangatus @DZAR1026 @NewsRmn @ali_sotto @dwiz882 @News5PH @ABSCBNNews @roribabyko @dzme_1530khz @manilabulletin @pinas_city @PhilstarNews @MlaStandard pic.twitter.com/BMh3Pye05C

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) May 2, 2022

On Sunday, David reported that Metro Manila had a one-week growth rate of 7% “as the 7-day average in new COVID-19 cases increased from 79 (as of April 17 to 23) to 85 (as of April 24 to 30).”

The Department of Health earlier admitted that they are monitoring five areas in Metro Manila which had increases in their one-week and two-week growth rate, however, the agency said the spikes are “still not that significant to cause alarm” to the public.

EDV