Quezon City has seen a drop in the average daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases for four straight weeks.
The University of the Philippines-OCTA Research said the city averaged just 178 cases per day from Oct. 4 to 10 based on data from the Department of Health.
This marked the fourth straight week that the city gained a drop in the average number of daily cases, from 321 on Sept. 13-19, 192 on Sept. 20-26, and 184 on Sept. 27-Oct. 3.
Based on the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) data on onset of illnesses or new cases within the two-week monitoring period, the average number of daily new cases from Sept. 301Oct. 6 is only 40.
OCTA Research also noted a significant decrease in the reproduction number, from .79 percent last Sept. 26-Oct. 2 to .71 from Oct. 3-9 data.
Quezon City’s reproduction number is lower than Metro Manila’s .77 and the whole Philippines, which was pegged at .87.
“This continuous development for the past months shows us that our efforts are working well towards the goal of reducing and totally eradicating the virus,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
As far as the positivity rate is concerned, from 10 percent last Sept. 26-Oct. 2, Quezon City’s positivity rate is now at 9 percent.
It is now closer to the target of 5 percent set by the World Health Organization to indicate that the infection has been controlled.
To date, Quezon City ranked 13th out of 17 local government units with an attack rate of 5.8 % per 1,000 population.
Using the CESU data from Oct. 3-10, the research group noted the decrease in active cases to only 8 percent of the 20,538 total cases.
“All indicators for Quezon City have improved. We are moving closer to our targets and we are positive that we will soon solve this pandemic tin the city,” CESU head Dr. Rolly Cruz said.
After the inauguration of the Quezon City Molecular Laboratory, QC Task Force on COVID-19 head Joseph Juico also added that the city would continue its efforts of test, isolate and treat.
“The molecular laboratory completes our strategy. We are now self-sufficient when it comes to processing our tests,” he said.